El Niño agricultural losses to be recouped mid-August

CEBU, Philippines - The losses incurred by farmers in Cebu City during the onslaught of El Niño are expected to be recouped by mid-August this year.

To recall, the City Agriculture Office recorded damage worth P73.1 million in fruit and vegetable crops, cutflowers and livestock from January to June this year.

To recover immediately, farmers started planting early maturing crops while the city government, through the City Agriculture Office, is assisting them in finding a place where they can market their products.

Joelito Baclayon, city agriculturist, said that the onset of rainy season, though late, is now helping farmers cope with the losses during the months of drought from January this year until last month.

“Kay nagsugod naman ang uwan-uwan, karon naa ta’y tubig. Nibalik na ang springs nila, ang rain pud is evenly distributed, naa na’y ulan matag karon og unya, nindto na, nourished na gyud ang atong mga tanom,” Baclayon said.

The city agriculture has advised farmers not to invest yet in mass production as they used to because the threat of La Niña is seen to hit the country this October.

“Among gi-campaign karon is slowly lang, hinay-hinay lang g’yud sa pagtanom. Katong ila nang gi-prepare or gi-cultivate daan, mao ra to ang unang tamnon, later na sila mag-expand kung nabalik na gyud sa normal ang tanan,” he said.

Under the new administration of Mayor Michael Rama, the city agriculture is directed to implement major programs for the 28 mountain barangays of the city.

These programs shall not only focus on efforts to increase farm production but also on marketing strategies for the produce.

“Ang city government and city agriculture mo-assist pagpangita og lugar nga ilang kabaligyaan, at the same, pag-provide og sakyanan... mga transport vehicles aron makuha sila ngadto sa ilang mga farms ug para mamenus-menusan ang ilang gasto pagdala sa ilang mga produkto,” Baclayon said.

There are already nine urban barangays where farmers supply their products. Baclayon said that their goal is to penetrate all urban barangays so they have started coordinating with the barangay officials.

The committee on agriculture headed by councilor Edgardo Labella is also working on a comprehensive program hopefully to be implemented before the end of this year.

This program shall focus on the establishment of mini-dams known as Gabion dams and small water impounding system or farm reservoirs. This shall address the lack of water in elevated areas.   (FREEMAN NEWS)