Farmers in drought-hit areas advised to plant crops needing less irrigation

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) advised yesterday farmers in dry spell-hit areas in the country to plant crops that rely less on irrigation.

Pagasa deputy administrator Nathaniel Cruz said several areas in Luzon have been experiencing “drier than normal” condition for the past several months due to the prevailing El Nino phenomenon.

“Farmers in areas affected by the dry spell should plant watermelon or mongo instead of water-loving plants like rice,” Cruz said.

El Niño is the unusual warming of the ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. It is characterized by below normal rainfall.

Cruz admitted that most of the major dams in Luzon are below their normal level.

He said the reservoirs may not have enough supply of water for irrigation.

In its latest El Nino advisory, Pagasa said the province of Capiz is already under drought condition as it experienced below normal rainfall for the past five consecutive months from August-December 2009.

Areas that experienced dry spell were Benguet, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Batangas, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Mindoro, Romblon, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Northern Samar, Aklan, Guimaras, Biliran, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat. – Helen Flores