Farmers urged to plant high value crops to avert effects of El Niño
SAN JOSE, Antique – Farmers in rain fed croplands were encouraged to plant high value crops, vegetables, corn among others to avert the possible effects of El Niño which is expected early next year.
Nicolasito Calawag, Provincial Agriculturist said that planting rice in rain fed areas entails a lot of risk especially that there is a forecast of the long dry spell. We hope El Niño won’t directly affect us, so that agricultural productivity won’t be greatly affected.
Calawag said that OPA will distribute 1 kilo of assorted vegetable seeds to each town to cover about 12,000 hectares of vegetable plantation. This will not only improve farm productivity but help in the solution of the problem on malnutrition.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has initially distributed about 2,700grams vegetable seeds like amplaya, squash, beans, eggplant among others, vegetables for pinakbet and chopsuey to farmers in 18 towns in the province. Seeds are available at the OPA, Municipal Agriculturist or some Barangay Nutrition Scholars especially in areas identified with high incidence of malnutrition.
Planting of rice in irrigated farmlands are also ongoing under the monitoring of National Irrigation Administration and Irrigators Associations who have their own schedule of water distribution in areas where irrigation water are limited.
“Antique maintains its high rice sufficiency status of 175% for this year. However, infestation in farms like occurrence of tungro and other pest decreased the production from 178% last year”, said Calawag.
On the other hand, Calawag said sunny weather is also favorable to fisherfolks especially those who engaged in salt making.
“We have, in fact, purchase materials for salt production to augment the needs of the small fisherfolks who wish to venture in salt production’, the source said. Most of these fisherfolks are also farm laborers that when farming is not so favorable they shift to other livelihood activities.
Meanwhile, in compliance to the directive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to fast track the completion of projects as the government intensifies preparations to cushion the impact of El Niño next year, OPA has also formulated mitigation plan to lessen the looming effect of the long dry spell. (PS Mabaquiao/PIA)
