TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The onset of El Niño have caused droughts that significantly affects crops and would result to a decline in agricultural production.
This is the statement released by Elsie Edduba, Assistant City Agriculturist during the first quarter meeting of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) held on February 21 at M Hotel.
Edduba said hectares of land devoted to agriculture primarily utilized for palay, corn, vegetable and high value commercial crops are vulnerable to be affected by the El Niño weather phenomenon particularly those rain-fed areas.
In her report, Edduba noted that from December 2023 to March this year, a total land area of 10,678 hectares were planted for rice production; 1,027.34 hectares from the 11 barangays were utilized for corn production; and 2,458.2 hectares for high value commercial crops such as food and feed crops, leafy vegetables, fruit vegetables, spices, banana, fruit trees and industrial crops.
These crops are now in their reproductive and vegetative phase, she said.
With the continuous drought, it is projected that there would be damage to farms resulting to possible production loss due to dry spell.
The Office for the City Agricultural Services (OfCAS) has already prepared the needs assessment report to determine extent of damage to farm lands and crops, and identify appropriate services for affected farmers. By Darwin S. Serion
