26/03/2026
๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ก: ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐
Beneath every thriving harvest lies an often-overlooked hero: the soil. More than just a medium for plant growth, soil is a living, dynamic systemโquietly sustaining crops, ecosystems, and communities alike. Today, in the highlands of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), a renewed focus on soil health is transforming the way farmers understand and care for the land that feeds them.
Soil health is defined as the soilโs capacity to function as a living system that supports plant, animal, and human life while maintaining environmental quality, soil health hinges on a delicate balance. Physical structure, chemical composition, and biological activity all interact to determine whether soil can sustain productivity over time.
Scientists and agricultural experts agree: healthy soil is alive. The Food and Agriculture Organization emphasizes the vital role of soil organismsโfrom microscopic bacteria to earthwormsโin breaking down organic matter, recycling nutrients, and improving soil structure. These biological processes directly influence water absorption, air circulation, and root growthโfactors essential to robust crop development.
Beyond agriculture, soil also plays a critical role in addressing global environmental challenges. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, soils act as significant carbon sinks, capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This makes soil management not just a farming concern, but a key strategy in mitigating climate change.
Recognizing this, local agencies in CAR have taken proactive steps to safeguard and enhance soil health. The Department of Agriculture โ Regional Field Office โ CAR, through its Regional Soils Laboratory and in partnership with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, has launched an extensive soil health monitoring program across the region.
This initiative involves systematic soil sampling and laboratory analysis from strategically selected sites. Experts examine physical characteristics such as soil texture and structure, chemical properties including pH levels and macronutrient & micronutrient content, and biological indicators like carbon dioxide soil respirationโan important measure of microbial activity.
Fieldwork is already underway in the provinces of Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, and Benguet, with additional areas scheduled for assessment. Samples collected from these locations are brought to a Mobile Soils Laboratory stationed in Balong, Tabuk City, Kalinga, where standardized testing ensures accurate and consistent results.
But the effort goes beyond data collection. The findings are used to update the regionโs Fertility Guide Map, a critical tool that informs agricultural planning and decision-making. More importantly, farmers themselves are placed at the center of the initiative. Each participating farmer receives a soil health cardโan accessible summary of their landโs condition, complete with tailored recommendations for improving productivity.
Training sessions and capacity-building activities are also being rolled out, equipping farmers with the knowledge to conduct proper soil sampling and utilize soil test kits directly in the field. This hands-on approach empowers them to monitor their soil regularly and make informed management choices.
At its core, the program is about awareness and action. By helping farmers better understand the condition of their soil, it encourages the adoption of sustainable practices that prevent degradation and enhance long-term fertility.
In a region where agriculture remains a vital livelihood, nurturing the soil is not just a scientific endeavorโit is an investment in the future. As these initiatives take root, the Cordillera stands as a model of how local action, grounded in science, can cultivate resilience from the ground up.// Haily G. Patna-an, Regional Soils Laboratory
DA-CAR Press Release No. 26-28
