More farmers now have access to lab services
THE Department of Agriculture-Davao Region said over 700 farmers have improved access to their laboratory services as of 2022.
“This shows nga ang awareness sa atong farmers, dapat dili lang diay sila mag-stick kung unsa lang gyud ilang nahibal-an sa farming, dapat mag keep up pud sila with science. (This shows that our farmer’s awareness, should not solely lie on what they traditionally know when it comes to farming, but they have also kept up with science),” Adrienne Mae Zabate, DA-XI Regional Soils Laboratory (RSL) Chemist III on Agri-Laboratories and Services for Farmers, said during AgriBiz Forum at SM Lanang Premier, May 16, 2023.
Zabate said that based on their data, approximately 400 to 500 clients had benefited from their laboratory services last year.
Zabate added that the clients are not just individual farmers. Members of farmer cooperatives, private companies, and student researchers can also avail of the services provided by the RSL.
“Naa pod mga private foundations nga gusto nila ma empower ilang mga members (There are also private foundations who wanted to empower their members). This year nag target sila og upat [ka mga grupo], and by next week ang first for the year (This year, they are targeting to train 4 groups, and next week will be the first for this year). It can be noted nga last year naka- five sila [ka mga grupo] (It can be noted that last year they were able to train five groups) apil na ana ang mga (including) LGU and farmer coops,” Zabate said.
Zabate said farmers who submit samples are interviewed and told to achieve the right input, timing, fertilizer, and right soil placement.
“Naa pud nagahatag sa mga farmers og advice from RSL aron mahibal-an kung unsa ang better nga ipa-analyze nila, ug para makuha nila ang gusto nga result or data nga magamit nila sa ilang farm (RSL also advises the farmers to help them know better on what should be analyzed, and for them to be able to get the results or data utilized for their farm),” she added.
Zabate said the fees for various services are kept at a minimal price with P50 per sample as the cheapest for pH and moisture content and P300 per sample for the Boron, compared to private laboratories which charge P1000 for every service.
The Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), pH Soil Test Kit (STK) is charged at P100, but for the Farmers’ Month celebration for this month of May, the analysis is free.
"Ang mahatag sa STK is dili jud exact nga data kumbaga qualitative analysis lang (STK can only provide a qualitative analysis, not an exact data) while the NPK, ph (Routine) can give a numerical value or an exact analysis of data," she said.
Zabate said both NPK, pH (STK), and NPK, pH (routine) soil analysis can be used to get fertilizer commendation from RSL.
RSL also offers hands-on training to farmers who are willing to learn about ways to get the sample and soil analysis. Maimona Wanda Lao and Nova Mae Francas, HCDC Interns