DA readies interventions for long dry spell

The government is gearing up to cushion impact of the prolonged dry season brought about by the El Niño phenomenon.

With anticipated damage caused by the dry spell in Davao region, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) in cooperation with Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 11 and the provincial government of Davao del Norte will be conducting a cloud seeding intervention to the affected areas immediately after the completion of the needed papers before its commencement.

Mike Nota, technical staff of BSWM informed DA-11 officials headed by regional director Remelyn Recoter that the province has a total of 37 percent damaged areas, comprised mostly of banana plantations.

Based on records from the regional High Value Crop Development Program (HVCDP), Davao del Norte has a total of 23,772 hectares of banana plantation, 8,425 hectares of which have been damaged by the dry spell.

“About P3 to P4 million was allocated for cloud seeding process, wherein 10 percent from the amount will be given to the El Niño affected local government unit,” Nota reported.

However, the Bureau will no longer conduct cloud seeding in Davao City because the extent of the damage is severe especially corn and mango.

“We will not conduct cloud seeding in Davao City anymore because the damage is already big and it can’t be recovered. The provinces of Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur have minimal damages and it does not require cloud seeding intervention,” Nota explained.

He added, “If in case there will be continuous rain in the next days, we can halt the application of cloud seeding.”

DA 11 has prepared necessary interventions needed by affected provinces.

According to Dr. Rafael Mercado, assistant regional director for research and regulatory, “even before the threat of dry spell, the agri agency has started to monitor and evaluate different areas in the region which will be directly affected.”

He bared that the Corn Program has already prepared 6,923 bags corn seeds as buffer stock while the Rice Program has prepared 4, 200 bags certified rice seeds, 1,130 bags registered rice seeds, and 125 units Pump Irrigation System and 5 units Pump Irrigation System (Open Source for rehabilitation).

Under the HVCDP, 575 drums, 66 bags of mungbean, one unit spring development and one unit farm reservoir have been prepared.

Director Recoter urged farmers to report their crop losses to their municipal agriculturists, “so we will know your concern and immediately act up on it.” (DA)