KALIBO, Aklan – The prolonged dry spell due to El Nino phenomenon has taken a toll on the crops in this capital town.
Around 90 vegetable farmers temporarily stopped planting vegetables due to lack of access to potable water, said Barangay Mobo Farmers Cooperative president Nestor Cesar on Wednesday.
“Vegetable prices may double due to high demand and low supply,” said Cesar.
The Barangay Mobo is considered the primary source of vegetable supply in Kalibo and in Boracay Island.
“As farmers, we need help. We do not know whom to turn to,” Cesar said.
At least 37 towns in Western Visayas suffered crop damage from the El Niño climate phenomenon, according to the Department of Agriculture Region Six (DA-6).
DA-6 also recorded crop damage in three towns of Antique province and one town each in Aklan and Capiz provinces.
Western Visayas ranked third in rice production last year, the region’s rice farmers still rely on rain to keep their crops alive.
With the onslaught of El Niño, DA-6 is advising farmers to plant other crops that require less water./PN
To combat the occurrence of drought that results in Global Warming and Climate Change and bring in El Nino and virtual lack of rain, Human should virtually reduce the amount use of burning fossil fuels in the products of gasoline, diesel, kerosene, coal fuels and etc. that produces the emission of CO2 into the Earth’s atmosphere. It means reduce unnecessary travel by using cars, truck that uses the product of oil fossil fuels, and cut electricity consumption.