This Policy contains recommendations and advice prepared for agricultural decision makers. The Policy recommendations serve to inform how science-based evidence and recommendations on climate-resilient soil and nutrient management can assist in making the best decisions; contributing towards sustaining agricultural production; and enhancing food security. The guidelines promote sustainable soil and nutrient management for enhancing soil productivity and optimizing crop production and ecosystem services. The Policy further aims for enabling smallholder farmers to increase adaptability and resiliency to changing climate. The Policy provides an Implementation Framework for Soil and Nutrient Management that address the goals in the Vision and Strategic Plan for ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (2016-2025): Ensuring food security, food safety and better nutrition, and increasing resilience to, and contributing to, mitigation and adaptation of climate change, natural disasters and other shocks. The text address principles of sound soil management for climate-smart agriculture which are designed to provide resilience and adaptation to variable climate while mitigating emissions of greenhouse gases. The text further refers to good practices and different case studies for conservation agriculture practices and site specific nutrient management. The Policy contains 11 Sections as follow: Introduction (1); Soil resources in the ASEAN region (2); Soil Constraints to land use (3); Good soil management practices (GSMP) (4); Good nutrient management practices (GNMP)(5); Standards and regulations for fertilizers and supplements in the ASEAN region (6); General considerations impacting the guidelines (7); Linkage between guidelines and user requirements (8); Recommendations for future implementation and enhancement of the guidelines across the ASEAN region (9); References (10); and Attachment 1: Metadata for national soil maps (11).
2017-09-01