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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider DA sets strategies to tackle El Niño impact in 2024

DA sets strategies to tackle El Niño impact in 2024

Published Dec 29, 2023 04:59 am

At A Glance

  • The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Interagency Task for El Niño are preparing agricultural strategies to battle the expected dry season in 2024.<br>The actions planned are the repair and rehabilitation of irrigation canals, cloud-seeding, dispersal of farm animals and provision of alternative livelihoods to farmers and fishermen, implementation of low-water-use technology for rice farming, and the quick-turnaround strategy.<br>Around 740 kilometers (km) out of 843 km irrigation canals have been built and upgraded last November.<br>Forty units of small-scale irrigation systems covering 1,477.5 hectares were also repaired for a better water distribution.<br>The Bureau of Soil and Water Management requested P112 million for the cloud-seeding strategy, as well as a collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of National Defense (DND).<br>The Philippine Native Animal Development Program will allow the distribution of 56,169 animals to 297 farmer groups and 470 individual farmers.<br>Advanced livelihood and technologies that adapt to climate change will also be given to fishermen located in Bicol, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga.<br>The quick-turnaround strategy will aim 17,660 hectares of rice fields.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Interagency Task for El Niño began preparations to mitigate the incoming dry season which is expected to affect food production, farmers, and fisherfolk.

In a statement on Friday, Dec. 29, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said that precautionary measures are being implemented to battle the effects of the hot weather phenomenon.

This includes repair and rehabilitation of irrigation canals, cloud-seeding, dispersal of farm animals and provision of alternative livelihoods to farmers and fishermen, implementation of low-water-use technology for rice farming, and quick-turnaround strategy.

“We are leaving no stones unturned in our effort to ease the impact of El Niño on our farmers and fishermen as well as consumers by ensuring food production is sufficient and supply is secure during the expected dry spell that could affect a majority of provinces and millions who depend on agriculture and fisheries,” Laurel said.

The DA chief shared that 740 kilometers (km) out of 843 km irrigation canals have been built and upgraded since November this year.

Around 40 units of small-scale irrigation systems covering 1,477.5 hectares were also repaired for more effective and efficient water distribution.

To further prepare for the El Niño effects, the Bureau of Soil and Water Management, an attached-agency of the DA, has sought cloud-seeding operations that would supplement the water requirement of standing crops during the dry season next year.

According to the bureau, the agency has requested a P112 million support to proceed with the weather modification.

The rain production operation will be in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of National Defense (DND), where they can also acquire aircraft for the cloud-seeding strategy.

Furthermore, the DA will also push the Philippine Native Animal Development Program, wherein 56,169 animals are distributed to 297 farmer groups and 470 individual farmers.

Adaptive livelihood and technologies will also be given to fishermen located in Bicol, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga.

“The DA will entice more rice farmers to use alternative wetting and drying technology to save water,” Laurel said.

“The technology has been successfully used by over 1.2 million farmers and implemented on 9,210 hectares of rice fields,” he added.

According to Laurel, the next target for the quick-turnaround strategy will be done on 17,660 hectares of rice fields.

The quick turnaround would mean that all rice farmers must replant rice without waiting for months to take advantage of the remaining soil moisture.

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Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. El Niño Department of Agriculture
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