New portal helps farmers optimize use of fertilizer 

GREEN STALKS Pangasinan farmers tend to their rice field. —WILLIE LOMIBAO

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) has launched its online platform designed to help farmers maximize productivity and profitability by enabling them to make better planting decisions.

Called BSWM FertMap (fertilizer map), it is a georeferenced database that consolidates soil data and generates fertilizer recommendations depending on the crop that a farmer plans to cultivate.

“This will maximize the yield by determining the period when it is most profitable to plant. Wala nang hula hula (No more guessing),” BSWM director Gina Nilo says.

On the sidelines of BSWM’s anniversary celebration, Nilo explains that FertMap can help farmers select the most suitable crop to cultivate depending on soil conditions and prevailing weather conditions. It can also identify the most ideal planting period and provide nutrient recommendations.

“The basic ingredients to make decisions are already there,” she tells reporters. “That will give you the idea, the decision on what particular crop to plant.”

According to BSWM, the FertMap provides tailored recommendations based on the soil health of a specific planting area and offers expert-level insights to smallholder farmers at no extra cost.

The information generated by the online platform can help reduce excessive fertilizer use, lower production costs and mitigate harmful effects on the environment.

Vegetables produced in Benguet being transported to Metro Manila —EV ESPIRITU

Nilo also says the platform will generate recommendations on the appropriate amount of chemical fertilizers, biofertilizers and other farm inputs to be applied depending on the nutrient requirements of the crop.

BSWM notes that aggregated data from FertMap helps local governments and the Department of Agriculture (DA) craft targeted agricultural policies and subsidy programs.

“Through this initiative, the DA-BSWM makes soil information more accessible not only to farmers, but also to researchers, academic institutions and local government units, supporting better decisions, research and policies for sustainable agriculture,” it adds.

Nilo says BSWM developed the homegrown online database through its National Soil Health Program aimed at revitalizing agricultural lands and improving soil health. INQ