Farmers in province urged: Fight dry spell

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Agriculture Office has urged farmers in the province to take precautionary measures to minimize the impact of the mild El Niño on their crops.

Provincial Agriculturist Roldan Saragena suggested establishing water catchment ponds and facilities to store water in anticipation of the effect of the dry spell.

“At least naay ma-save if mo-grabe man gani ni ang El Niño,” he told reporters.

Saragena said farmers, especially those who underwent the Capitol’s Farmer-Scientists Training Program, in which they were trained in farm trials and to be ‘resilient’ in climate variability, know how to deal and adjust with the climate, though.

“(In the FSTP), we introduced the planting of other varieties of commodities and crops, like vegetables,  peanuts, camote and monggo, aside from corn. Kay kung madaot ang corn, at least naa pay laing crop nga makuha ang farmer,” he added.

He reminded farmers to plant quick-maturing and drought-resistant crops like sweet potato and cassava.

The province is distributing drums of organic fertilizers to some farmers in areas with established organic farming programs such as the cities of Naga and Carcar and the towns of Moalboal and Consolacion.

The recipient farmers are those who have availed themselves of the province’s “plant-now-pay-later” program. Under the scheme, farmers will pay the cost of the fertilizers two weeks after they have harvested their crops. Capitol set aside this year P10 million for the organic fertilizers.

Further, Saragena said farmers covered by the agri-fishery insurance of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation  can always claim the proceeds of the insurance if the dry spell would damage their crops.

There are around 31,000 farmers and fishermen in the province covered by the agri-fishery insurance.

Capitol also allocated P10 million for the insurance premiums for this year.

A memorandum of agreement was entered into between the Capitol and PCIC last year for insurance.

Beneficiaries only need to visit the local agriculture office to avail of the insurance, as well as the claim of the proceeds, Saragena said. — (FREEMAN)