LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The city government of Laoag through its agriculture office is now preparing for the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon to lessen possible damage and loss on the agriculture sector.
City agriculturist Shiela Opelac, said the city government is going to conduct a series of initiatives aimed at boosting support for local farmers starting with the production of rice to ensure a stable supply year-round.
“Kapag tinitignan natin ang ating population at per capita consumption, more than enough naman yung ating harvest dahil ang harvest area ng rice for wet season ay almost 3,000 hectares at nakaka-harvest ng five metric tons per hectare,” she said.
(“When we look at our population and per capita consumption, there is more than enough harvest to go around because our harvest area of rice for the wet season is almost 3,000 hectares which results in about five metric tons of harvest per hectare,” she said.)
Though in the past years, rice production in the city has been sufficient, Opelac said that this 2024, they will increase their support and assistance to farmers especially in distributing mechanical water pumps, solar-powered pumps, planting tools, and other machinery to mitigate the impact of drought in farmlands.
Last September, the city government turned over ten units of solar-powered irrigation systems in the rice farming villages of Bacsil North, Basil South, Lataag, Cabungaan A, Cabungaan B, Calayab, Apayao, Sta. Rosa, and Darayday to reduce the cost of rice production input.
Each unit can generate 18 to 22 cubic meters per hour or five to seven liters per second with a serviceable area of five hectares which means farmers can save about P6,000 worth of fuel when irrigating their rice fields over four months.
Eight more units of solar-powered irrigation systems are expected to be turned over to barangays this year.
Moreover, they will also distribute high variety seeds that “do not need too much water to grow,” the city agriculturist added.
The city government is still reviewing the best assistance to give to fisherfolk who will be affected by altering aquatic environments during extremely hot weather.
According to a forecast by the Department of Science and Technology, possible dry spells and drought brought by El Niño could peak in April and all areas in the country are expected to feel the effects of the weather phenomenon and as many as 63 provinces may experience severe drought conditions. (JCR/MJTAB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
