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LINGION SEES CORN HARVEST INCREASE AMID NEW AGRICULTURAL INTERVENTION BY DA-10 BSWM
Farmer's Field Day Celebration at Manolo Fortich
LINGION — Manolo Fortich celebrated Farmers’ Field Day through a Ceremonial Harvesting of Corn at Zone 7, Barangay Lingion on October 8, 2025, as 71 farmers from Barangay Lingion benefitted from the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 10 – Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA 10 – BSWM) through its Adaptive Balanced Fertilization Strategy (ABFS) program on corn aimed at increasing soil fertility.
Decline of Soil Fertility in Lingion
Barangay Lingion of Manolo Fortich is widely known for its agricultural activities, with most of its land dedicated to corn and cassava farming. However, according to DA 10 – BSWM Soil and Water Access Team (SWAT) Senior Science Research Specialist Vince Albert P. Ching during the ceremonial harvesting, corn areas across the Philippines—including Barangay Lingion—are facing a decline in soil fertility.
“At least 83% of the corn areas in the Philippines is naa na sa a moderately low to low fertility level,” said Ching, adding how Lingion was chosen as a beneficiary of the ABFS program, “In the recommendation of our DA region, diri sa Lingion gipa conduct ang project kay gikan sa soil samples, ang Lingion naa na gyud sa low to moderately low nga soil fertility level.”
A New and Elevated Agricultural Intervention
The Adaptive Balanced Fertilization Strategy (ABFS) is a science-based farming approach by BSWM designed to address the decreasing corn yield caused by declining soil fertility. It emphasizes the use of cost-efficient and appropriate combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers to sustain yield productivity through improved soil fertility and plant nutrition.
In its pilot implementation in 2024, the program benefitted at least 13 hectares of corn areas in the Municipality of Baungon, Bukidnon.
This year, around 100 hectares of corn areas were planted last June using Dekalb seeds, as well as organic and inorganic fertilizers provided through the ABFS. The project was closely monitored, with full assistance from soil sampling, planting, and fertilizer application to crop-cut monitoring.
During the ceremonial harvesting on October 8, the team successfully harvested four sacks of corn from just one block.
Impact of Increased Corn Harvest
Among the 71 farmers was Carolyn Ilonggo from Zone 7, Barangay Lingion, who owns a one-hectare land where the ABFS was implemented. Ilonggo shared how the intervention has increased her corn yield productivity, as the harvest in her area has already been completed.
“Dako kaayo akong pasalamat niini nga programa sa BSWM nga tsada gyud akong mais karong panahona basta Dekalb. Na experience nako sa akong area nga bisan og tunga ra sa hectare, nakakuha ko og 7,600 kilos sa mais. Wala ko nagdahom na kaya diay toh maabot na income sa akong pag-uma,” shared Ilonggo.
The Bliss Lingion Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BLMPC) is also among the major beneficiaries of the ABFS program.
Sustaining ABFS for Agricultural Productivity
As results continue to show positive impact, Ching urged the agricultural sector in Manolo Fortich to remain proactive in addressing low soil fertility by sustaining the ABFS program, “Hopefully, mabalik nato ang pagkatambok sa atong yuta. One of the ways to address this is need na gyud nato mogamit og abono para motaas balik ang nutrients sa atong yuta.”
In response, Committee Chairperson on Farmers, Councilor Elzevir A. Dagunlay, highlighted that agriculture has been a key priority of the LGU of Manolo Fortich under Mayor Rogelio N. Quiño’s administration, “Nasayod ta nga atong lungsod, 70 to 85% kay agricultural area. Daghan gyud kaayo nanginabuhi pinaagi sa pag-uma. Naa gyud naka sentro kini nga prayoridad kay ika-tulo ang agriculture sa 10-Point Agenda.”
Jam Emano
Editor
Date Posted: October 14, 2025
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