Cagro to famers: Continue bracing for El Niño

THE City Agriculturist’s Office (CAgrO) called on farmers in Davao City to continue preparing for a long dry spell.

The CAgrO on Thursday said it continues to anticipate a dry spell after the DOST-PAGASA forecasted early last year that the El Niño season will persist until the second quarter of 2024.

“Though naa’y baha na atong na-experience last week, di gihapon ta safe sa El Niño. Wa pa man mahuman ang El Niño season so possible pa maigo ang Davao,” CAgrO Head Edgardo Haspe said during the I-Speak media forum on Thursday.

“Manawagan lang gihapon mi sa atong mga mag-uuma dinhi sa Davao City, padayon lang gihapon ta mangandam kay simbako basig maka-experience gyud ta og long dry spell or drought tungod sa El Niño (We are still urging our farmer here in Davao City to continue preparing because, God forbid, we may still experience a dry spell or drought because of El Niño),” he said.

He added that a prolonged El Niño season hitting the city is still a very likely threat that must be addressed as an extended dry season poses risks of drought and plant diseases that may endanger food security.

To address these risks, Haspe bared the CAgrO has set aside a P6 million fund to respond to the negative effects a prolonged dry spell can have on agriculture.

“At the same time, mupalit gihapon ta’g seeds para ma-restore nato dayon, maka-provide dayon ta’g immediate support sa atong mga farmers na possible maigo sa El Niño (At the same time, we will procure seeds so we can immediately recover losses, we can readily provide immediate support for our farmers who will be affected by El Niño),” he said.

The CAgrO’s Action Plan for El Niño which specifies critical areas, as well as the roles and duties of various government agencies in the event of a dry spell, is now awaiting approval and will most likely be enforced this month. Haspe said mitigating measures as well as emergency assistance for farmers are also specified in the action plan. /