The Negros Oriental government will establish a soil laboratory in Dumaguete City as part of its continued efforts to promote organic farming.

Chairperson Florante Vicuña of the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council said the laboratory is very important facility that will help farmers improve their production, by determining the needs and the condition of the soil for their crops.

He said the province had set aside P1.2 million for the laboratory equipment, on top of the P300,000 to be used for the improvement of the building to house the facility.

Vicuña said the proposed laboratory will be the only facility of such kind operating in Region 7 of Central Visayas. It will also have a tissue culture laboratory, which is capable of replicating planting materials, he added.

Once operational, Vicuña said farming methods in the province will become scientific, with emphasis on organic agriculture.

The province has also allocated P1.8 million to the PAFC to conduct training to farmers, not only in farming but also for upland fisheries and livelihood.

The training for tilapia sardines-making is now ongoing in Siaton, Vicuña said.