By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has urged the local government units (LGUs) in the province to prepare for the El Niño phenomenon early next year.

Provincial agriculturist Dr. Dina Genzola said, based on a forecast by the state weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, hot and dry conditions will likely be experienced in the first quarter of 2024.

Genzola advised local farmers to conserve water.

She added that Negros Occidental is currently experiencing “moderate El Niño conditions,” as some localities have reported damage to their crops due to the heat.

However, some crops were saved due to the recent combination of the shear line and a low pressure area, which brought cool and rainy conditions in the province.

Genzola said during El Niño, the Department of Agriculture and OPA will provide drought-resistant crops to local farmers, so they can have an alternative livelihood, which prevents them from ceasing cultivation.

According to OPA data, 14,000 out of 64,000 hectares of farmland in Negros Occidental are currently irrigated after the provincial government installed temporary dams to secure water sources.

The province is also preparing for the possible onset of pests and plant diseases after El Niño.

El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface water of the Pacific Ocean.

The phenomenon increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, potentially causing dry spells, droughts and other adverse environmental effects./DGB, WDJ