• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental provincial government is preparing mitigation measures to cushion the impact of the looming El Niño phenomenon later this year, following warnings from the Department of Agriculture (DA) of a high probability of prolonged dry spells.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, May 19 that the provincial government is coordinating with the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) for possible cloud seeding operations as some farms in the province have already started to dry up due to extreme heat.
“We are working with the BSWM for cloud seeding. If it is possible, we ought to start with that,” Lacson said.
The governor added that the provincial government is also studying the utilization of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) funds to provide financial assistance to affected farmers similar to the interventions during the previous dry spell episodes.
“We are also looking at tapping DRRM funds for possible financial assistance to affected farmers, which we did before,” he said.
Lacson noted that crop insurance remains among the key mechanisms to help farmers recover faster from agricultural losses caused by extreme weather conditions.
While the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. is there to extend help to farmers, the governor said they are looking into the possibility of adding to those funds.
“The recovery of affected farmers is faster if they are insured,” Lacson said.
Earlier, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the probability of a moderate to strong El Niño has reached 92 percent, shifting government preparations from uncertainty to expected impact.
“It is no longer a question whether we will experience another El Niño after the 2024 episode that undermined rice harvest. The only question that needs to be answered is its intensity,” Laurel said in a statement.
The DA chief also ordered preparations for a “worst-case scenario” to minimize the impact of El Niño on farm production, farmers’ incomes, and economic activity.
Some global climate models are also pointing to the possibility of a “super” El Niño event, which could significantly reduce rainfall and strain water sources across agricultural areas due to projected warming of up to 2.2 degrees Celsius.
To mitigate possible losses, the DA has instructed its Masagana Rice Industry Development Program to implement measures such as adjusting planting schedules, shifting to less water-intensive crops, and expanding irrigation support, including solar-powered irrigation systems.
The department is also coordinating with the National Irrigation Administration to manage water allocation and prepare irrigation facilities for prolonged dry conditions.
Agriculture officials stressed that early and coordinated interventions will be critical in limiting the effects of El Niño on food supply, prices, and farm incomes as the country moves closer to another possible dry spell cycle. | GB with PNA reports
