SAN FERNANDO City, La Union — To be resistant in the rainy season, the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1) advises farmers to take proactive measures to protect their crops and animals.
DA-RFO 1 Regional Executive Director Annie Bares suggests farmers to choose the schedule of their activities on the field properly.
“Unang-una po ang palagi pong ni-re-remind sa atin ay i-schedule nang maayos ang aktibidades dito sa baba sa field na hindi matamaan ng panahon pag-bagyo at palagi pong ni-re-remind din na gumamit ng binhi na kahit malubog sa tubig ay may kakayahang mabuhay pa rin,” Bares said.
(To enhance their crops’ resilience against typhoons, we regularly advise our farmers on optimal planting schedules and promote the use of flood-resistant crop varieties.)
Rice farmers may choose rice variants that can survive abundant water such as the PSB Rc14, Rc68, NSIC Rc9, and Rc222.
As of now, rice sufficiency in the region is at 180%.
“So ito po (rice stock), it will last three to four months na kung saan ay during that lean months ay magiging available pa rin po ‘yong ating staple food yung rice,” Analiza Ramos, DA-RFO 1 planning, monitoring, evaluation division chief, said.
(Our region’s rice reserves can last three to four months during lean seasons, ensuring a steady supply of this vital staple food.)
In preparation for the impacts of the rainy season, the DA utilized a seed buffer stock. This measure helps minimize the risks by enabling rice farmers to explore alternatives such as corn or vegetables for replanting in response to weather-related events.
This diversification provides farmers with options and helps ensure a source of income even if their rice crops are affected.
“During La Niña, hindi po natin maiiwasan ang mga pest and diseases so mayroon din tayong buffer stock ng mga chemicals and pesticides and even mga biological control agent na kung sakali ay maapektuhan po tayo ay mayroon po tayong available sa mga different research stations po natin,” Ramos added.
(Anticipating the potential for increased pests and diseases during La Niña, the DA has stockpiled a variety of control methods at our research stations. This includes chemicals, pesticides, and even biological control agents, ensuring these resources are readily available to farmers if needed.)
To safeguard livestock during the rainy season, the department recommends that farmers elevate animal shelters in advance to prevent potential flooding.
Meanwhile, according to the agricultural office, there were P530 million worth of damages in this year’s El Niño season, with 17,000 total affected farmers.
DA-RFO 1’s proactive measures and lessons from past seasons aim to minimize the rainy season impact and bolster the Ilocos Region’s agricultural resilience. (PIA Region 1)
