(Photo courtesy of DA Region 3)
MANILA – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and other partners in the government are prepared to extend assistance to local farmers amid a looming El Niño phenomenon in the coming months.
In a Laging Handa briefing on Tuesday, NIA acting administrator Eduardo Guillen said coordination with irrigator’s associations, the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Public Works and Highways is ongoing.
“Inaasahan po natin na marami tayong maitutulong ngayon kung talagang papalo po itong El Niño (We’re expecting to be able to provide plenty of help if El Niño will really hit us),” Guillen said.
Based on data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, he said El Niño, a weather phenomenon resulting in dry spells or droughts, may affect the Ilocos Region and some other parts of Luzon.
He noted that Mindanao may not be greatly affected by El Niño.
To help save water and increase farm yields, he said a system called alternate wetting and drying will be practiced.
“Puwede naming ma-increase by 20 percent iyong area na mapatubigan po namin kung ma-practice po ito, and mas mapataas pa natin iyong ani ng ating mga farmers (We can increase by 20 percent the amount of water we send to an area if we practice this and this will result in higher yields for farmers),” he said.
This practice, he said, may also provide farmers a chance to earn carbon credit that allows emission of a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.
In areas affected by dry spells or droughts, he said solar-powered water pumps will be provided.
“Dahil doon sa coordination ng ating Pangulo, pati iyong pondo ng highway sa solar pumps, puwede na po namin iyong ma-access (Because of our coordination with the President, we have access to funds for solar pumps in highways),” he said.
In worst-case scenarios where it is impossible to plant crops, he said the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Labor and Employment can provide help through their cash-for-work program Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers.
Such programs will help farmers by paying them for work such as desilting canals or other labor-related jobs.
To ensure that the country will have an ample food supply, he said the country’s National Rice Program is ready to provide farmers with hybrid seeds that have double the yield of inbred seeds.
“At the same time, iyong mga farmers po natin dito sa high-value crop section ng DA, mabigyan din sila ng free input sa high-value crops (The DA may also help high-value crop farmers by providing them with free inputs),” he said.
The weather bureau earlier announced that there is an 80 percent probability of El Niño emerging between June and August that may last until early next year.
This weather phenomenon increases the likelihood of below normal rainfall conditions which could trigger droughts or long dry spells. (PNA)
