DA told to review planting calendar

MANIAL -- President Rodrigo Duterte had recommended checking out if there is a need to modify the country’s current planting calendar because of climate change, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Piñol said the President had asked to see if the unpredictability of climate has adverse affects on the cropping calendar.

“The President [on Sunday] recommended that there should be a review of the planting calendar, in view of the realities of climate change,” the Agriculture chief said.

“[Duterte said] they should be designed in such a way that we will avoid harvesting our crops during the rainy season or the onset of the typhoon season,” he added.

Climate change is taking its toll on farming in the Philippines, with about P10.2 billion damage done to agriculture by typhoons Lawin and Karen, Piñol said.

As of latest count, more than 49,000 farmers were

affected by the onslaught of Lawin that made landfall in Cagayan last week. It translated to more than 406,000 hectares of damaged areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol Regions.

Piñol said he had already ordered to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to provide food assistance to affected farmers and fisherfolks, validate the extent of and distribute seeds from pre-positioned seed buffer stock, fertilizers, fishing gear and other needed assistance. SUNNEX