TABUK CITY, Kalinga – As part of the mitigation measures being implemented by the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) to assist farmers affected by the El Nino phenomenon, thirteen (13) farmers cooperatives and associations registered as civil society organizations in the province were the latest beneficiaries of support given by the government.
The beneficiaries came from the city and municipalities of Rizal, Pinukpuk, and Tanudan found in the tail end of the national irrigation system and areas having shallow tube wells classified as part of the vulnerable areas to El Nino in the region.
In coordination with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, DA-CAR assisted in the distribution of 16 units of water pumps and engine sets to the identified clustered beneficiaries.
The department is currently implementing the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program to attain economies of scale, and enable more farmers, fishers, and agripreneurs produce and earn more from their toil, which is the DA’s first formal, comprehensive, and holistic government initiative to be implemented nationwide.
Aside from attaining economies of scale, and achieve cost-efficient production, harvest, processing and marketing operations, with an expected improvement in the income of farmers and fishers.
As of March 18, 2024, DA-CAR recorded the areas of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Kalinga having a total of 8 municipalities that have been affected by the weather phenomenon.
The number of farmers affected were recorded at 1,902 that have planted rice covering 870 hectares of irrigated ecosystem which were partially and totally damaged, having a loss in yield of 18 metric tons.
Among the actions undertaken by DA-CAR is an inventory of interventions from regular programs 2023-2024 seed reserve program, consolidation and analysis of data sets particularly on planting and harvesting, standing crops, damage and losses assessment report, prioritization of the distribution and delivery of 2024 projects to areas at risk to drought.
The request of PCIC listing of farmers enrolled for insurance and availment of insurance benefit related to El Nino, the updating of master list template incorporating the number of families of affected farmers as basis for endorsement to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) aside from the possible augmentation of their programs and services to affected farmers, and the regular monitoring of PAGASA forecast. By JTLlanes
