In a significant milestone  for  the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management’s (DA-BSWM) National Soil Health Program (NSHP), the Soils Survey Division (SSD) successfully conducted its Output Presentation and Turnover of Maps and Data to the Provincial Local Government of Zambales. The event, held on April 12, 2024 at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), Iba, Zambales, brought together the officials from Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) and OPAg. 

Led by a Team from SSD headed by Mr. Sandy B. Abiad, Senior Agriculturist, with technical support from  Mr. Sadam K. Silongan and Mr. Diether Miranda, the technical presentation of the NSHP map outputs was conducted showcasing a comprehensive digital soil mapping generated through rigorous soil survey activities across the Province from March to April 2023. Among the presented maps were Soil Map and Soil Suitability Maps for various crops such as rice, corn, mango, pineapple, root crops, vegetables and other high value crops. The maps provide valuable information from soil properties and its soil suitability assessment to various crops essential for informed decision-making and strategic investment planning in soil resource management towards sustainable agriculture. 

During the presentation, attendees had the opportunity to review the initial map outputs, suggest inputs for improvement, and provide feedback on the findings. The interactive knowledge-sharing  facilitated constructive discussions on the current status of the soil, and the potential applications of the maps and data for a sustainable land use management for the Province.

The technical output presentation boosted and strengthened the initiative of the Provincial Local Government of Zambales towards improving the soil health across the province’s jurisdiction. Moreover, the key findings from digital soil mapping presented further justify the province’s goal of fast-tracking the establishment of a Provincial Soils Laboratory.

(Diether Miranda and Sandy Abiad, SSD)

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