BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in Negros Occidental is closely monitoring water supplies for irrigation of agricultural lands amid the threat posed by the El Niño phenomenon.
Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said El Niño would likely hit the country in the latter part of this year and persist until 2024.
OPA head Dr. Edmundo Causing said they are especially monitoring water supplies in rice fields.
Some rice farmers in the province no longer plant for second cropping due to dry conditions, added Causing.
The OPA head also advised farmers to temporarily switch to drought-resistant plants, such as root crops, as an alternative.
The office is yet to monitor damage to crops, and the OPA’s Agricultural Engineering Division is still checking with the various local government units.
Earlier, provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said the province is preparing for El Niño and “tiempo muerto” or the closing of the sugar milling season.
Reforestation projects by the national and local governments have been implemented in the southern part of the province, added Diaz.
Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is confident that the province will be able to manage the upcoming dry spell just as it managed to navigate through the El Niño in the past.
A large area of the province is already well-irrigated, and Lacson doesn’t see any problems as long as the irrigation is unhampered.
However, farmers are advised to finish their harvest and immediately make preparations for next year.
The governor also said they will review some assistance options for farmers and assured them that they would get it as long as the provincial government is capable of doing so./PN
