Amid the cold weather; DA, city officials caution farmers

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of  the Cebu City government and the Department of Agriculture have advised farmers in mountain barangays to take extra precautionary measures in caring for their animals amid the unusually cold weather which is expected to persist until the end of February. 

Joel Elumba, Department of Agriculture-7 regional technical director for regulation, recommended for farmers to shift from normal practices, like in the feeding system of their animals, wherein it may be preferable to use the "cut and carry" system, which refers to food of animals like plants taken to them instead of the other way around which is commonly used.

Elumba explained that dealing with the cold weather can be very strenuous for animals like carabaos, horses, cows and goats. 

He said that those farmers who can afford to provide high nutritional value feeds and some vitamins to their animals would be best so as to increase its body's metabolism.

"We also encourage farmers nga labi na inig ka gabie nga ibutang gyud nila sa kamalig or pasilongan gyud nila ang ilang mga hayop to avoid direct exposure to cold weather," Elumba said.

This was supported by Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella who also advised farmers to make proper barns to shield their animals from the cold weather.

"I just talked to the city agriculturist nga there are about 69 animals so far nga recorded nga nangamatay during the cold weather didto sa kabukiran. Mao na nga ako siyang gitambagan nga i-meeting ang mga farmer groups to make a barns," Labella said.

Earlier reports have already been received by the city government on animals in Cebu City barangays such as Sudlon 1, Sudlon 2, Buot-Taup, Malubog, Tabunan, Bonbon, Lusaran, Adlaon, Sirao, Tagba-o, Taptap, Guba, Cambinocot, Paril, Budlaan, Pung-ol Sibugay and Sinsin that have died due to the cold weather.

Labella said when he visited the mountain barangays, he noticed that there are animals which are not sheltered in barns.

"Naa man gani'y uban nga naay barn pero atop ra ang naa pero wala’y bungbong. Maigo gihapon sa katugnaw. So kanang naay mga barns nga unta mabutangan og bungbong para ma proteksyonan sa hangin nga bugnaw," he stressed.

Labella said that some animals are just placed under trees and are left wet during the rain.

"Bisan og make-shift lang gud, nipa ba, kogon ba," he added.

Elumba of DA-7 said that farmers, who have relatives in lowland areas, may also temporarily transfer their animals in these areas which are warmer.

As for the supply of vegetables, Gerry Avila, chief of the agri-business and marketing division of DA-7 said that the cold weather and torrential rains have affected the supply for the markets in Cebu.

"Tungod sa kabugnaw ug sa pagsigi og uwan, nangalata ang mga gamot sa mga tanom," Avila said.

As of yesterday, DA-7 field monitoring team observed that prices of ampalaya, eggplant and string beans at the Carbon Public Market have increased.— (FREEMAN)