7,057.15 hectares of agricultural land in Davao City affected
By Cheneen R. Capon and Funny Pearl A. Gajunera
A total of 7,057.15 hectares of agricultural land in Davao City have been adversely affected by the long mild drought in the country, affecting the livelihood of a total of 11,151 farmers.
City Agriculturist’s Office (CAO) chief Celio Tabay confirmed in a press conference yesterday that the city’s agriculture has been adversely affected by El Niño, which is still in its first month.
Tabay said with more than one month of no rain, all crops in the city were affected.
“Apektado na yung mga crops sa Davao City, especially yung mga tinanim last January (The crops in Davao City have been badly affected, especially those that were planted last January),” he said.
Tabay said Tigatto watermelon farmers are among those badly affected, with the fruits starting to break.
Of the 7,057.15 hectares affected by El Niño, 2,718 are planted with fruits, mostly in the second and third congregational districts in the city.
Tabay said an initial 2,449.55 hectares (has) of corn area; 481.67 has. of rainfed rice fields;
2,718.46 has. of fruits; 506.56 has. of industrial crops; 12.60 has. of legumes; 335.70 has. of root crops; and 317.42 has. of vegetables were affected.
Tabay said his office is currently validating the effects of El Nino and has already requested the Department of Agriculture (DA) for cloud seeding as a remedy to mitigate the effects of the long drought.
‘’The cloud seeding operations will be for the agri areas of Paquibato, Marilog, Toril, Tugbok, and Baguio Districts,’’ he said.
The request for cloud seeding operations is still being assessed and validated in the regional office of the DA, he added.
Tabay said as early as now, the CAO has already identified mitigation measures as the dry season is expected to last until June.
“DA extended irrigation facilities to the city. These can be used in our agriculture areas that will be badly hit by the dry spell,’’ he said.
He also said if something worse happens, the city government can use the calamity fund for mitigation and assistance.
Affected farmers can also ask assistance from CAO for facilitation of application for livelihood assistance for other government agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, and DA.
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Davao Station Chief Gerry Pedrico had earlier said a long drought was expected in the last quarter of 2014 or the first quarter of 2015.
Pedrico said this was despite the 20 average typhoons that enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Meanwhile, Tabay admitted there is limited assistance the government can offer to the affected farmers.
The City Agriculturist’s Office, however, plans to help farmers in making project proposals that they can pass to big organizations to get their support.
