BACOLOD City – The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Negros Occidental urged local government units (LGUs) to prepare for next year’s El Niño phenomenon.
Hot and dry conditions will likely be experienced as early as the first quarter of 2024, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Dr. Dina Genzola, provincial agriculturist, said they have told farmers to conserve water.
She added that crops were damaged in some areas already due to heat, although some were saved due to rains brought by the recent combination of shear line and low-pressure area.
Genzola further said that during dry season, the Department of Agriculture and OPA are providing drought-resistant crops to farmers so they can have an alternative livelihood, preventing them from ceasing cultivation.
OPA data showed that out of the 64,000 hectares of farmland in Negros Occidental, 14,000 hectares are currently irrigated through the temporary installed dams that would secure water sources during El Niño.
The dams are part of the province’s measures to lessen the impact of the weather phenomenon.
Moreover, the province is also preparing for the possible onset of pests and plant diseases.
El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface water of the Pacific Ocean. It increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, potentially causing dry spells, droughts, and other adverse environmental effects. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
