By Kenneth Marcos 
MANILA – As farmers and agri-professionals seek better ways to boost crop yields and manage soil health, the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) is opening a free online training to help them make smarter, science-based decisions in farming.
The webinar, titled “Decision Support System (DSS) for Soil Nutrient Management Towards Sustainable Crop Production,” will be held on October 15, 2025 (Wednesday) via Zoom and Facebook Live.
This initiative is part of the agency’s ongoing effort to improve soil and fertilizer use across farms in the country, especially as extreme weather, high input costs, and poor soil quality continue to challenge Filipino farmers.
What to Expect from the Webinar
The full-day training will cover modern tools and technologies that support smarter farming, including:
-
SARAI (Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry)
Speaker: Dr. Loucel U. Cui, University of the Philippines Los Baños
This topic will focus on how digital tools and climate data can help farmers make better planting decisions. -
Nutrient Expert® for Maize and Cassava
Speaker: Mr. Jesse C. Descalsota, UPLB
A practical system that recommends precise fertilizer needs based on soil condition and crop type. -
FertRight Mobile App
Speaker: Ms. Maribel R. Jalalon, DA-BSWM
A mobile application that provides quick and accurate fertilizer recommendations for farmers.
Who Can Join and How to Register
The webinar is open to the public and offers 8 free training hours. Registered agriculturists will earn 3 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit units, which are required for license renewal.
Only the first 280 registrants from the original posting last August will receive the Zoom link. However, everyone else can still join via the DA-BSWM Facebook Live stream and qualify for the certificate and CPD credits, as long as they complete the evaluation form during the event.
Registration is open until October 10, 2025.
Interested participants can register via this link:
🔗 https://forms.gle/k7VsrYT9X6BU9Gqn8
Why This Matters
Soil health plays a major role in increasing yields and reducing farm expenses. Many Filipino farmers continue to rely on guesswork when applying fertilizer, which often leads to waste, low productivity, or soil damage. With the right tools and training, farmers can optimize their fertilizer use, reduce costs, and improve harvests — especially in crops like rice, corn, and cassava.
The DA-BSWM encourages all stakeholders — farmers, extension workers, students, and agricultural professionals — to take advantage of this free training as the country works toward a more sustainable and food-secure future.
For further inquiries, contact the Soil and Water Resources Division at sdd.crops@gmail.com.
Pwersa Balita – Your Trusted Source in Agri News