KIBLAWAN, DAVAO DEL SUR — September 16, 2026 — Farmers in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur marked another milestone in science-based agricultural production as a Corn Harvest Festival was conducted to showcase the productivity gains and field-level application of the Adaptive Balanced Fertilization Strategy (ABFS) of the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM).

Spearheaded by the Soil and Water Access Team – Region 11, the activity gathered agricultural stakeholders from the DA Regional Field Office XI, Provincial Agriculture Office of Davao del Sur, Municipal Agriculture Office of Kiblawan, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, and members of the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Domino Ihan (NAMADOIH).

The celebration featured a ceremonial harvesting activity highlighting the performance of the 100-hectare ABFS Techno Demo Area, where 52 participating farmers adopted the Combo 3 fertilizer recommendation as part of the field implementation of balanced and crop-responsive nutrient management.

The ABFS approach promotes judicious and efficient fertilizer use by considering crop nutrient requirements, inherent soil fertility, and appropriate fertilizer sources, rates, timing, and application methods. Through this approach, farmers are encouraged to move away from generalized fertilizer application and toward science-based nutrient management practices suited to actual field conditions.

Beyond increasing crop productivity, ABFS emphasizes maintaining the long-term health and productive capacity of agricultural soils. Integrating organic and inorganic fertilizer sources, when appropriately matched to soil and crop requirements, can improve nutrient availability and nutrient-use efficiency while helping maintain soil organic matter and overall soil health. This is especially important for sustaining agricultural productivity amid rising production costs and the need to protect the country’s finite soil resources.

For ABFS beneficiary Engr. Warren Urbuda, the project gave farmers practical knowledge they can use to improve fertilizer management in their own fields.

“Dako kaayo among pasalamat sa BSWM sa ilang ABFS Project kay nakat-onan namo ang hustong pagpang-abono, hustong kadaghanon, ug hustong timing sa paggamit sa abono.”

“We are very grateful to the BSWM for the ABFS Project because we learned the proper fertilizer application, the right amount, and the right timing of fertilizer use.”

His experience reflects the fundamental objective of ABFS: to empower farmers with knowledge and technologies that enable informed, efficient, and sustainable nutrient-management decisions.

The implementation of ABFS in Kiblawan demonstrates the importance of bringing soil science and agricultural technology directly to farmers and their production areas.

Through field-based technology demonstrations, farmers can observe and evaluate recommended nutrient-management practices under actual farming conditions. Such approaches help bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical farm management, allowing technologies to be adapted to local production systems.

The 100-hectare techno demo also serves as a platform to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, local government units, agricultural technicians, farmer organizations, and producers toward a common objective: productive farms supported by healthy, sustainably managed soils.

The golden harvest of Kiblawan represents more than the culmination of a cropping season. It reflects the collective efforts of Filipino farmers and agricultural institutions in advancing productive, resilient, and sustainable Philippine agriculture.

For the DA-BSWM, initiatives such as ABFS are part of the ongoing effort to promote responsible management of the country’s soil resources—the foundation on which agricultural productivity and food security depend.

As Filipino farmers continue to cultivate the nation’s fields, science-based soil and nutrient management can help ensure that today’s productive lands remain capable of supporting generations of farmers tomorrow.

From the fertile soils of Kiblawan to the tables of Filipino families, every successful harvest contributes to the larger national aspiration of food security, farmer empowerment, sustainable agriculture, and a stronger Philippine agricultural sector.

The DA-BSWM National Soil and Water Resources Research and Development Center for Highland Pedo-Ecological Zone (NSWRRDC-HigPEZ) undertakes applied and location-specific researches in highland pedo-ecological zones. It showcases cost-efficient, socially acceptable and environment friendly soil and water management technologies in highland pedo-ecological zones. 

(Mark Anthony Paga, NSWRRDC HighPEZ)

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