Cagayan de Oro LGU bracing for El Niño

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The city government of Cagayan de Oro has activated safety measures to cushion the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on farmers, particularly in upland barangays.

Support programs aimed at mitigating the effects of prolonged dry conditions on agricultural crops have been lined up, according to Ernie Daba Jr., chief of the city agriculture office.

Local officials formed Task Force El Niño to closely monitor the dry spell and coordinate response efforts among concerned agencies.

In October 2023, the city government urged farmers in non-irrigated areas to delay planting to prevent losses.

Farmers tilling approximately 900 hectares of irrigated farmlands were encouraged to shift to drought-resistant crops and vegetables to sustain output.

The city government is pursuing measures to stabilize irrigation supply including deployment of water pumps.

The city received P113.8 million in assistance to support about 11,385 beneficiaries including farmers not classified among the poorest, but still affected by the dry spell.

Farmers were urged to insure their crops to be able to claim indemnity for losses linked to El Niño.

As of this month, climate projections show a 79 percent probability of El Niño developing by mid-year.