DA includes climate smart crops in its program

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is now incorporating climate smart technologies in its programs to enable the local agriculture sector to adapt to extreme weather changes.

“In response to the directive of his Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino, and in line with the Climate Change Act, DA has put in place adaptation strategies to cushion the impact of extreme weather conditions,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told stakeholders during the recently-held Gawad Saka Awards.

The DA, he said, is in the process of setting up 153 automatic weather stations in key agricultural areas to give timely weather advisories to food producers.

“These stations will serve as source of information so they will know when and how to plant at a particular season,” said Alcala.

The DA, he said, is also developing planting materials for climate-resistant food crops.

The DA is now testing the adaptability of green super rice, a variety jointly developed by Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

Alcala said three varieties of the Green Super Rice are being tested for adaptability in various growing stations of the DA nationwide.

The National Seed Industry Council has yet to approve though the use of the Super Green Rice for commercial use. 

The seed council is mandated to register and accredit new seed varieties of superior quality for commercial use.

Represented in the council are the DA, rice research institutes, state colleges and universities, as well as players in the seed industry.

According to the IRRI, Green Super Rice combines the superior traits of 250  varieties and hybrids variously adapted to difficult growing conditions such as drought and low inputs, including no pesticide and less fertilizer.