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Sunday, October 8, 2017
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THE DEGRADATION of soil in our farmlands will eventually lead to lower agricultural output despite the application of modern farming practices. This will affect not only the livelihood of our farmers but also our food supply. We have to act now before it is too late.
As we gird for the World Food Day on Oct. 16, we are reminded to promote the use of soil and water conservation technologies to prevent land degradation that is affecting about one-third of the country’s population and food supply.
Harnessing soil and water conservation measures and practices including rainwater harvesting, watershed protection and sloping technology is critical in reducing soil erosion and enhancing agricultural productivity. Land degradation affects more than 33 million Filipinos and is likely to contribute to widespread and severe poverty in the rural areas.
The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management estimated that 45 percent or around 13 million hectares of arable land in the Philippines are either moderately or severely eroded due to massive deforestation and adoption of unsustainable land management practices in the upland areas, further compounded by the unabated use of urea in modern farming, which has led to actual soil degradation.
In the Senate, there’s a pending bill (“An Act Promoting Soil and Water Conservation Technologies and Approaches for Sustainable Land Management in the Philippines”) which seeks to support sustainable land management programs for livelihood improvement, particularly that of upland farmers and indigenous peoples, and for the prevention of land degradation. It is hoped that this will not be ignored. The measure also includes provision for a national soil and water conservation program; the creation of model farms that will showcase water and soil conservation; and the construction of small-scale rainwater harvesting structures.
We have to capacitate and empower local government units and farmers associations in the implementation and operationalization and maintenance of soil and water conservation. These are keys to our food security.
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