President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to establish more soil testing centers across the country to help farmers increase their productivity.

Marcos lamented the shortage of soil testing centers during a meeting in Malacañang with DA officials on Tuesday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a news release on Wednesday.

“Kulang na kulang tayo sa (We are really lacking in) soil analysis. We cannot tell the farmers how much fertilizers to use. We cannot give them any advice because we don’t know ourselves what the condition of the soil is,” Marcos said, as quoted by the PCO.

The President made the statement after the DA recommended to conduct soil mapping and agricultural liming, initially in Luzon areas as part of the program to expand the sugar industry.

“That (soil mapping) actually applies to all crops,” Marcos said.

He said there should be at least one soil testing center for every region to guide farmers on crops suitable on their lands.

The DA said “restructuring” efforts are being undertaken to help increase the number of government soil testing centers.

The agency is eyeing to have a total of 12 facilities by next year, the PCO said. (PNA)