PhilRice recommends El Niño technologies

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is urging farmers to adopt technologies that will help them cope with the weak El Niño, which started in November 2018 and is projected to end in June.

Farmers in irrigated areas are advised to use water efficiently so it can reach tailend areas in the irrigation system. They are encouraged to practice controlled irrigation, which can reduce water use by around 16 to 35 percent without reducing yield.

“This technology is aided with an observation well used in monitoring water levels. It’s time to irrigate when the water level hits 15 cm below ground level,” said Fredierick Saludez, PhilRice agriculturist.

While PhilRice experts recommend fallow period every cropping season, in times of drought, they encourage farmers with stable water supply to plant rice immediately after harvest.

Eduardo Jimmy Quilang of PhilRice Agronomy, Soils, and Plant Physiology Division, calls for the adoption of “quick turn around (QTA) to ensure enough rice supply amid a dry spell. In doing this, however, synchronous planting is strongly recommended to prevent pest outbreak.

Quilng said this has to be well-coordinated with the National Irrigation Administration.

To reduce production time by an average of 10 days, direct seeding is recommended. Farmers are then advised to use 60-80 kilograms per hectare.

In areas with limited water supply, Ricardo Orge, program leader of the Climate Resiliency for Enhanced Agricultural Trade and Efficiency for Rice (CREATE-Rice) program, advised farmers to diversify from rice.

“If it’s already too risky to plant rice, farmers may consider planting short-duration crops instead. We suggest high-value crops requiring less water use such as watermelon. Farmers may also focus on tending livestock,” Orge said.

With El Niño occurring in the Pacific basin every two nine years, PhilRice plant breeders reminded rice farmers to be prepared by planting drought-resistant varieties such as PSB Rc 10, NSIC Rc130, and NSIC Rc 134. These varieties can be harvested within 104-110 days.

NSIC Rc 192, PSB Rc 14, and PSB Rc 68, which can harvest up to 5.5 tons per hectare, are adaptable in rainfed areas while PSB Rc 9 and NSIC Rc 23 are suitable in the upland ecosystem.

Farmers with water source can also try the aerobic rice technology, which requires irrigation at two to five centimeters every week. They are also encouraged to avail of farm insurance to protect their crops from natural calamities.

Apart from this, farmers are advised to be updated on climate and weather forecasts from PAGASA and to contact the PhilRice Text Center to know more about El Niño technologies.

Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol said about 8,000 farmers had been affected by this year’s dry spell.

Among the affected provinces include Occidental Mindoro, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Sur, Cotabato, and Maguidanao.

Piñol said the agency has coordinated with local government units and other key stakeholders, positioned pumps and engine sets for water distribution in tail-end areas, released crop insurance payments to insured farmlands, and prepositioned seed reserves for rice and corn.