News Details

DA Caraga Gets State-of-the-Art Mobile Soil Lab to Strengthen Soil Health and Boost Farm Productivity

NPO

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October 11, 2025

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region (DA-13) has received a state-of-the-art Mobile Soil Laboratory (MSL) designed to enhance soil health monitoring and improve farm productivity across the region.

The turnover of the MSL was formalized through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing held at the DA Central Office on Thursday afternoon, led by DA-13 Regional Executive Director Arlan Mangelen and Rhodielyn Bacsarpa, Regional Soils Laboratory Chief of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) in Caraga.

In a statement Friday, the DA said the deployment of the mobile lab aligns with the implementation of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1435 and the National Soil Health Program, which aim to promote sustainable soil management and boost agricultural productivity.

Mounted on a 10-wheeler truck, the MSL is equipped with cutting-edge facilities capable of analyzing 44 soil chemical, physical, and microbiological properties, as well as water quality.

The new mobile unit will augment the services of existing regional soil laboratories, allowing faster sample analysis and accommodating a greater number of farmers seeking soil testing services.

According to DA-13, soil sampling plays a crucial role in determining soil nutrient levels and pH balance—information that helps farmers apply the right amount of fertilizer, maximize crop yields, and minimize environmental impact caused by over-fertilization.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR