DA-NIR Activates El Niño Mitigation Measures to Protect Farmers and Food Production
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) has intensified its preparedness efforts and activated a series of mitigation measures aimed at minimizing the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on agriculture and food production across the region.
According to Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) Negros Oriental Chief Bernard Limbaga, the agency had already anticipated the possible effects of El Niño even before the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) formally announced its onset.
“Even before PAGASA officially declared the onset of El Niño, the Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region had already prepared mitigating measures to cushion its impact on farmers and agricultural communities,” Limbaga said in a statement on Monday.
Among the strategies being implemented is the distribution and utilization of buffer stocks of rice and corn seeds capable of withstanding moderate drought conditions. The DA is also encouraging farmers to adopt intercropping practices and cultivate drought-tolerant vegetable varieties, particularly in areas with limited irrigation facilities.
To help farmers manage water resources more effectively, the agency has established a monitoring system that regularly tracks water levels in irrigation canals. This allows farmers and irrigation managers to determine whether available water should be utilized immediately or redirected to priority agricultural areas.
The DA is likewise preparing for possible pest outbreaks commonly associated with prolonged dry weather, including army worm infestations that may affect corn and sugarcane plantations. Limbaga said the agency has sufficient pest control supplies ready for deployment should infestations reach levels beyond manual management.
While expressing optimism that the current El Niño episode will remain mild, Limbaga emphasized that locust infestations remain one of the major threats during extended dry spells. Fortunately, no significant locust outbreaks were recorded in the region during the previous El Niño event two years ago.
Agricultural technicians throughout the region remain on standby to provide technical assistance and support services to farmers during the dry season.
Limbaga also urged farmers to register with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to ensure financial protection against crop losses caused by El Niño and other natural disasters. He stressed that only farmers enrolled in the crop insurance program are eligible to receive government assistance and compensation for agricultural damages.
Meanwhile, Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW) assured residents that water supply remains stable despite concerns over the potential effects of El Niño and reports of intermittent low water pressure in some areas.
MDW Chief Operating Officer Robert Cabiles said the utility successfully maintained adequate water supply during the 2024 El Niño period and expects similar resilience this year.
He explained that recent low-pressure incidents and temporary service interruptions were primarily due to ongoing infrastructure upgrades designed to improve overall water distribution services.
To further strengthen water supply capacity, Cabiles announced that MDW is set to open its 23rd pumping station in Barangay Candauay during the third quarter of this year, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of water delivery throughout Metro Dumaguete.
NPO NEWS TEAM | PNA-PR
