DA forms Task Force La Niña

The Department of Agriculture has formed a task force to implement measures aimed at cushioning the impact of torrential rains on agricultural lands, particularly those areas that will be most vulnerable to La Niña.

Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban said the group, to be called Task Force La Niña, will recommend mitigating measures that will be presented to President Arroyo and will form part of operational plans by the government to ease the effects of La Niña.

La Niña is a weather phenomenon characterized by continuous rains during the dry season. Some experts believe that because of the frequent and heavy rains the country has been experiencing, a wet summer is to be expected.

Panganiban appointed DA Undersecretary for operations Edmund Sana to head Task Force La Niña and instructed him to mobilize the department’s regional field units in carrying out measures to prevent agricultural losses.

Heavy rains have hit the country, resulting in agricultural losses amounting to P 2.2 billion in flood-prone areas.

These areas are eastern sea board, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Agusan provinces, Davao Oriental, eastern-side of Quezon province and many parts of Luzon.

While above normal rainfall is expected throughout the country, Panganiban said "this will be an opportunity for farmers to plant more rice especially in rainfed areas".

The unusual occurrence of rains is good for rice farming but the opposite is true for corn and other crops, he said.

In line with this, the DA plans to expand rice hectarage to compensate for damaged corn and other crops from heavy rains and floods, Panganiban said.

Other less vulnerable areas will be targeted as new areas for rice and high value commercial crops.

The DA will also start the rehabilitation of irrigation systems and operation of post-harvest facilities.

"We are targeting some 400,000 hectares of rice and corn areas with these interventions. These measures will ensure the attainment of the four-percent growth target for 2006," Panganiban said.

Aside from rehabilitation efforts the DA through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource will be involved in the expansion of existing fishery projects especially in affected areas, Panganiban said.

These include the establishment of additional seaweed nurseries, mariculture parks and the use of fish cages for the culture of tilapia and bangus, he added.