Organic Farming Pushed as El Niño Adaptation Measure

Dumaguete City Agriculture Office advises local farmers here to shift to organic farming methods as a way of adapting to the adverse effects of the current El Niño phenomenon.

City Agriculture Office official Fely Barba said organic agriculture can help farmers produce good quality of crops despite the ongoing dry spell in the city.

Organic agriculture retains the fertility of soil by keeping in the essential nutrients needed by plants to grow.

Moreover, organic fertilizers are also cheaper than the commercial fertilizers which entail lesser production cost for farmers.

Barba mentioned that commercial fertilizer have elements that can affect the quality of crops. This, along with the unfavorable prolonged dry season, can bring negative effects on food production.

The City Agriculture Office continues to raise the consciousness of farmers on organic farming measures as thisis also the advocacy of the provincial government.

Part of their interventions is the production of vermicasts or worm manure which is the end product of vercomposting.

Barba encouraged farmers in the city to avail of the organic fertilizer at the City Agriculture Office.

“They can avail of these from the city government. We will help our constituents,” Barba disclosed.

She identified barangays Candau-ay, Camanjac, Cadawinonan, Cantil-e, Balugo and Bajumpandan as agricultural barangays in Dumaguete City.

So far the current El Niño phenomenon has brought a minimal effect to livestock but no damaged report on crops in the city, she added.

Meanwhile, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)-Negros Oriental chief meteorological officer Neptune Catarata said the province is included in the list of provinces that are affected by dry spell.

Based on the drought or dry spell assessment issued by the country’s weather bureau on April 23, other provinces that are experiencing dry spell are Agusan Del Sur, Albay, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Bukidnon, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela Valley, Davao Del Norte, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Lanao Del Sur, Leyte, Masbate, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Samar, Siquijor, Sorsogon, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur and Tarlac.

Dry spell happens when a province experiences below normal rainfall condition for three consecutive months or 21-60% reduction from average normal rainfall amount.

On the other hand, drought occurs when a province experiences way below normal rainfall condition for three consecutive months.

PAGASA data cites 23 provinces currently experiencing drought and these are Abra, Agusan Del Norte, Apayao, Basilan, Benguet, Bohol, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, La Union, Lanao Del Norte, Maguindanao, Misamis Occidental, Mountain Province, Pampanga, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga Del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.

However, based on the drought or dry spell outlook for May there are 42 provinces including Negros Oriental where drought or dry spell situation is likely to improve.

On the other hand, PAGASA also announced that drought or dry spell situation in 12 provinces across the country is likely to continue and intensify.

With this, the City Agriculture Office also advises farmers to conserve water since the El Niño phenomenon is expected to last until middle of the year. (rmn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)