Plant still during El Nino, DA execs urge farmers

COTABATO CITY – Agriculture officials have
urged farmers in Central Mindanao region to continue planting crops, especially
heat-resistant crops, as the country started to feel the feared El Nino
Phenomenon.

Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala, who was here for
the turn-over of farm equipment and seedlings to Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) peasant communities in Maguindanao, and DA-12 Regional Director Amalia
Jayag Datukan, assured the public mitigating measures are already in place.

We should not cease planting, we should not lose
hope,” Alcala told reporters. You see despite weather advisory on El Nino, we
still experience rainfall in some areas, so continue planting,” Alcala added,
addressing the region’s farmers.

Region 12 is composed of the provinces of North
Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Saranggani, known as rice granary of
Mindanao.

Alcala also said DA has programs that will help
farmers cope with the feared dry spell, including seed assistance, water
projects, among others.

South and North Cotabato have started feeling the effect
of dry spell as shown in drying up rice fields in the town of Mlang.

Datukan said DA is mulling cloud seeding operations
in response to requests by local government units and farmers.

DA is prepared to replenish damaged crops,” she
told a news conference. She said it was not right for farmers not to plant in
anticipation of longer dry spell.

Farmers should plant because DA is here to help
them should the crops fail,” Datukan told farmers in Region 12.

So continue planting, DA will be happy to assist,”
Datukan said, adding that her office is attending to requests for cloud seeding
and repair of water impounding projects. Replenish seedlings are ready for
distribution, she added.

In Barangay Buayan, Mlang, where 90 percent of the
farmers are into palay production, rice fields have dried up due to limited water
from irrigation.

Farmers said palay on its vegetative stage have no
chances of recovery due to extreme heat. Rice farmers are looking up to water pump
as back-up to irrigation to cushion the impact of drought in their farms.

In ARMM, which is comprised of the provinces of
Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, agriculture and
fishery officials are closely monitoring the agriculture sectors.

Alexander Alonto, regional secretary of ARMM’s Department
of Agriculture and Fisheries, said to date no reported major losses from the farmers
and fisheries sectors in ARMM.

The region is yet to experience serious effects of
drought, but so far farmers are enjoying occasional rains in the region,”
Alonto said in Filipino.

We are ready to respond should the dry spell would
have affected our farmers and fisher folks,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Balik Kalikasan Advocacy Group (BKAG),
an alliance of environmentalists and reforestation advocates in ARMM, calls for
water conservation to all stakeholders.

The group appealed household owners to check on leak
water pipes and recycle the use of water.

It’s not too late yet, plant trees in your
surroundings,” BKAG said in a statement.

It also urged villagers to help prevent forest
fires, especially near watershed areas in the region.