By JEN BAYLON
The Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) is urging farmers to prepare for the potential effects of the dry season on their crops as temperatures continue to rise.
OPA officer-in-charge Dina Genzola emphasized the importance of ensuring adequate water sources for irrigation to combat crop damage caused by prolonged heat.
To mitigate risks, OPA advises farmers to secure water storage systems and utilize rainwater for irrigation during sporadic rainfall.
This strategy aims to sustain crops through periods of insufficient precipitation.
While no official reports of crop losses have been submitted by local municipalities and cities, Genzola stressed that farmers must take proactive measures to prevent water stress in their plants.
In an interview, Genzola clarified that any reports of agricultural damage must originate from local government units (LGUs) and be signed by municipal or city agriculturists.
This ensures accurate documentation for assessing the impact of extreme weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), urged residents to conserve water resources despite the state weather bureau not yet officially declaring the onset of the dry season.
Gerangaya said they have not recorded significant soil cracking or depletion of water sources in the province so far.
As Negros Occidental braces for potential challenges brought by the dry season, both OPA and PENRO continue to monitor conditions closely while advocating sustainable practices to safeguard agriculture.
It can be recalled that the damage to agriculture caused by the El Niño phenomenon in Negros Occidental last year has reached P340 million, according to the OPA.
The damage to rice crops was pegged at P306,736,598.61, while losses to corn were estimated at P17,102,799.31, and high-value crops at P13,330,121.
The LGUs that recorded agricultural damage due to El Niño-induced drought include the cities of Kabankalan, Escalante, Himamaylan, Bago, and San Carlos, as well as the municipalities of Cauayan, San Enrique, Candoni, Valladolid, Ilog, Calatrava, and Hinoba-an.
Earlier, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the supply of rice in Negros Occidental remains sufficient despite the El Niño phenomenon last year.
The farmers recorded a slight increase in local rice production, Lacson said.
The governor hopes that the weather will be favorable for rice farmers to increase their yields this year.
Lacson reinforced the provincial government’s goal of increasing rice production to six metric tons per hectare.
He noted that at present, local farmers produce only four metric tons per hectare.
“Our marching order is that here in Negros Occidental, we can produce six metric tons per hectare of rice,” he said.
“Right now, we are at four metric tons. If we can increase that to six, that means 40 more sacks per hectare and, of course, that will help the farmers,” the governor added./JB, WDJ