Soil and Water Resources Research Division

As finite resources, soil and water resources research is crucial in the development of sustainable resource management programs.

Republic Act 8435, also known as the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 declares in Section 80 that the state shall give priority to research & development; and in Section 81 further declares that the state shall enhance, support and consolidate the National Research and Development System in Agriculture & Fisheries; while Section 82 states that agriculture & fisheries research and development activities shall be multi-disciplinary; and that research institutions and centers shall enjoy autonomy and academic freedom. Pursuant to Republic Act 9729 known as Climate Change Act of 2009, the state is geared towards building national and local resiliency to climate change-related disasters. In the international arena, there is an agreement of the Global Research Alliance on Greenhouse Gases (GHG) that the Philippines is a member of the Alliance and that Bureau serves as the Philippines contact point for the Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling cross-cutting Research Group.

Researches on soils and water have increased exponentially not only throughout the country but throughout the world. Yet there remains many more issues and concerns that need to be addressed. Much of these focus on how the soil functions and how this knowledge can be used to improve farm productivity, and lately, to maintain a wholesome and healthy environment. The Soil and Water Resources Research (SWRRD) Division shall focus its research on the inherent and dynamic soil properties and processes that can be evaluated in terms of an integrated set of biological, chemical, and physical process indicators as a tool for evaluating the effects of soil management on specific soil resource or crop commodity. It shall provide decision support technology and information system packages to farmers, policy makers, the academe, and other users of soil and water management information. It shall conduct upstream researches to fill knowledge gaps, especially those concerning crop responses to stress soil and water conditions and global change.

The SWRRD is strengthened to expand the conduct of soils and water resources research to include emerging issues on land degradation, biodiversity, climate change, disaster-risk reduction and concerns such as organic agriculture, precision agriculture, protected agriculture, conservation agriculture. It shall take the leadership for an integrated multi-disciplinary Research and Development team for sustainable soil/ land and water use to support long-term productivity of the natural resources.

Mandate

To conduct upstream researches on soil and water management technologies and undertake targeted studies for sustainable agricultural productivity.

Mission

To provide scientific leadership in the development and generation of soil and water management technologies in support of the national government’s food and renewable energy production, security, and safety programs.

Vision

A progressive, prosperous, participatory, modern, and environment conscious farming communities interacting harmoniously with respected and responsible multi-disciplinary team who are responsive to their farm production concerns and changing agricultural production environment.

Functions

Provide leadership for an integrated multi-disciplinary R & D studies for sustainable soil/ land and water use to support long-term productivity of the natural resources in the SAFDZ and for undertaking targeted researches in relation to the sustainable development thrusts of the Bureau in the identified program areas
Formulate plans and programs on upstream researches relating to the improvement of soil and water quality, enhancement of soil fertility and nutrient management, plant microbe interactions, soil/ land degradation processes and mitigations, and soil mineralogical properties
Explore, evaluate and enhance the potentials of soil flora and fauna and their utilization; and develop technologies for sustained agricultural productivity, food safety and environmental protection
Develop cost-efficient, pedo-ecosystem –specific fertilizer recommendations for various crops; formulate soil fertility rehabilitation strategies for nutrient-depleted soil; and update soil fertility guidelines for optimum fertilizer usage
Investigate and evaluate the causal factors relating to the deterioration of nocul-chemical properties of the soil and water; and formulate rehabilitation measures to improve agricultural productivity and promote soil health
Provide technical services for the scientific, academic and farming communities; develop knowledge products and decision-support tools; maintain research databases
In coordination with relevant institutions, establish and maintain research networking and partnership in the implementation and facilitation of research and development studies on soil and water resources management
Recommend policies on the management of soil and water resources; coordinate soil and water research network, and perform other functions as directed by the Director