Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 6 (PIA) – Dumaguete City Agriculture Office
advises local farmers here to shift to organic farming methods as a way of
adapting to the adverse effects of the current El Niño phenomenon.
City Agriculture Office official Fely Barba said organic
agriculture can help farmers produce good quality of crops despite the ongoing
dry spell in the city.
Organic agriculture retains the fertility of soil by keeping in
the essential nutrients needed by plants to grow.
Moreover, organic fertilizers are also cheaper than the commercial
fertilizers which entail lesser production cost for farmers.
Barba mentioned that commercial fertilizer have elements that can
affect the quality of crops. This, along with the unfavorable prolonged dry
season, can bring negative effects on food production.
The City Agriculture Office continues to raise the consciousness
of farmers on organic farming measures as thisis also the advocacy of the
provincial government.
Part of their interventions is the production of vermicasts or
worm manure which is the end product of vercomposting.
Barba encouraged farmers in the city to avail of the organic
fertilizer at the City Agriculture Office.
“They can avail of these from the city government. We will help
our constituents,” Barba disclosed.
She identified barangays Candau-ay, Camanjac, Cadawinonan,
Cantil-e, Balugo and Bajumpandan as agricultural barangays in Dumaguete
City.
So far the current El Niño phenomenon has brought a minimal effect
to livestock but no damaged report on crops in the city, she added.
Meanwhile, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA)-Negros Oriental chief meteorological officer
Neptune Catarata said the province is included in the list of provinces that
are affected by dry spell.
Based on the drought or dry spell assessment issued by the
country’s weather bureau on April 23, other provinces that are experiencing dry
spell are Agusan Del Sur, Albay, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Bukidnon,
Cavite, Cebu, Compostela Valley, Davao Del Norte, Davao Oriental, Eastern
Samar, Guimaras, Lanao Del Sur, Leyte, Masbate, Misamis Oriental, Negros
Occidental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Samar, Siquijor, Sorsogon,
Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur and Tarlac.
Dry spell happens when a province experiences below normal
rainfall condition for three consecutive months or 21-60% reduction from
average normal rainfall amount.
On the other hand, drought occurs when a province experiences way
below normal rainfall condition for three consecutive months.
PAGASA data cites 23 provinces currently experiencing drought and
these are Abra, Agusan Del Norte, Apayao, Basilan, Benguet, Bohol, Ifugao,
Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, La Union, Lanao Del Norte, Maguindanao,
Misamis Occidental, Mountain Province, Pampanga, Sarangani, South Cotabato,
Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga Del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.
However, based on the drought or dry spell outlook for May there
are 42 provinces including Negros Oriental where drought or dry spell situation
is likely to improve.
On the other hand, PAGASA also announced that drought or dry spell
situation in 12 provinces across the country is likely to continue and
intensify.
With this, the City Agriculture Office also advises farmers to
conserve water since the El Niño phenomenon is expected to last until middle of
the year. (rmn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)