President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is looking to roll out soil laboratories across the country to give farmers the support they need — from the ground up.

Speaking to farmers and fisherfolk during a forum in Nueva Ecija, the President said these labs will assess soil health and guide farmers in improving their crop production.

“We prioritized these mobile soil laboratories because they’re the quickest way to reach more farmers,” Marcos said. “They’ll be stationed in each region for a while, then move around to check the needs of the land — what fertilizer is best, what pesticides to use, everything.”

Currently, there are 16 mobile soil labs in operation, serving as a stopgap measure while permanent facilities are being built.

“We’ve already started. There’s an ongoing project with Australia in Surigao, and the goal is to eventually set up permanent soil labs in every region,” the President said. “This is just Phase 1.”

The idea, he said, is to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools to make the most out of their land — and ultimately reduce the country’s reliance on imported rice.

“We’re doing everything we can to support you,” Marcos told the farmers. “And we will reach the day when we don’t have to rely so much on imports. That will be our sign of success.”

On the same day, Marcos also met with the 43 recipients of the Gawad Saka awards, a recognition given by the Department of Agriculture to honor outstanding Filipino farmers, fisherfolk, institutions, scientists and researchers.

The awardees were recognized for their innovations and contributions in various fields — from crops and livestock to fisheries, youth leadership and agricultural science.

“These are the people who are showing us what’s possible when we support agriculture the right way,” the President said.