• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) has warned rice farmers and agricultural stakeholders to prepare early for possible drought impacts as the threat of El Niño raises concerns over crop production across the region.
In an advisory issued by DA-NIR based on data from the Philippine Rice Research Institute’s PRiSM, the National Irrigation Administration, and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, it reported a total of 11,351 hectares of rice areas in the Negros Island Region as susceptible to drought.
Of the total, 8,247 hectares are in Negros Occidental, 2,894 hectares in Negros Oriental, and 210 hectares in Siquijor.
The identified rice areas were classified according to high, moderate, low-moderate, and low susceptibility to drought.
The classification is intended to help farmers, local government units and agricultural offices determine appropriate interventions and preparedness measures.
DA-NIR stressed that early preparation and proper planning could help protect rice crops, reduce potential production losses, and improve farmers’ resilience to climate-related risks.
The warning comes as drought conditions in some parts of the Philippines have slightly eased following localized rainfall. However, severe to exceptional moisture deficits continue to affect large portions of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are among the areas placed under exceptional to extreme drought conditions, corresponding to red to dark-red classifications.
The DA-NIR advisory noted that such conditions indicate intense and critical soil moisture deficits, putting crops at high risk of failure.
Prolonged dry conditions could also cause local water reservoirs to fall to historically low levels.
With the region’s rice sector is facing the potential effects of El Niño, DA-NIR is urging urging farmers and local government units to maximize available water resources, strengthen preparedness measures and implement appropriate interventions before drought conditions worsen. | GPB
