By Kenneth Marcos 
Farmers, compost managers, and agriculture officials came together this week not just to talk, but to find real solutions—armed with paper, pens, and a deep understanding of the land they work on every day.
On the second day of a national workshop organized by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), participants actively engaged in breakout sessions and visited the Mobile Soils Laboratory, both key activities designed to strengthen composting operations across the country.
Held under the banner of sustainable and inclusive farming, the sessions provided a platform for local stakeholders to directly contribute ideas and strategies to improve the country’s waste-to-fertilizer systems.
Farmers take the lead in problem-solving
Using tools like SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), Value Chain Mapping, and Action Planning, the participants—mostly compost facility operators and farmer-beneficiaries—discussed the challenges they face in daily operations. These include problems like unstable equipment, inconsistent raw material supply, lack of technical training, and limited access to markets.
Each group worked according to their sector or composting category, ensuring the discussions were focused and relevant. The goal: to identify gaps in operations and develop clear, actionable solutions tailored to their unique situations.
The workshop also emphasized sectoral alignment, helping ensure that all composting-related programs are in line with the broader goals of the agriculture sector—such as increasing organic fertilizer use, reducing dependence on chemical inputs, and supporting local circular economies.
A closer look at soil health
Alongside the strategy sessions, participants were given the opportunity to visit the Mobile Soils Laboratory, a specialized facility on wheels that brings scientific testing and analysis directly to farming communities.
The lab allows farmers and facility operators to test soil samples on-site, assess fertility levels, and determine the best ways to improve land productivity using compost. The visit aimed to raise awareness of how science and technology can support effective soil management, a key factor in improving crop yield and long-term sustainability.
Experts from DA-BSWM were on hand to guide visitors through the lab’s services, explaining how data from soil testing can help them make smarter decisions about compost application and land care.
Strengthening composting for food security
The workshop is part of the government’s “Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya” campaign, which promotes sustainable practices to boost local food production while protecting the environment.
By involving composting facility operators directly in planning and decision-making, the program aims to ensure that solutions are grounded in real-world experience—and not just policy on paper.
DA-BSWM says it will consolidate the results of the sessions to guide future program improvements, technical training, and budget allocation.
As the workshop wrapped up its second day, participants left with clearer strategies and renewed commitment. What they planted in this gathering weren’t seeds in the soil—but seeds of action, collaboration, and change.
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