Dry spell takes toll on Zamboanga agriculture

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The continuing dry spell is taking a toll on Zamboanga City's agriculture sector, damaging an estimated P91.97 million worth of crops and fishponds as of this week, according to officials.

City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat reported that a total of 8,469.2 hectares of land planted with various crops and fishery products have been affected as of March 18.

He said out of the total 8,469.2 hectares of agricultural crops affected, 277 hectares are rice fields, 31 hectares are corn fields; 8,084.1 hectares planted with banana; 74.5 hectares planted with assorted vegetables; 9.3 hectares planted with cassava and .3 hectares of fishpond areas. 

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar called on the agriculture office to intervene on the destruction spawned by the dry spell and draw mitigating measures to assist the affected farmers. 

Palacat advised the farmers to redirect their farming to other crops suitable to the hot weather condition.