LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) -- Strawberry growers  in the nation’s  “Strawberry Capital” remain resilient amid the onset of the El Niño phenomenon.

Farmer Benney Yagui shared that due to lack of water, their strawberry crops bear fewer and smaller fruits. Some plants also got wilted. 

There are some crops that were infested with mites.

“Kurang ti i-provide ti bungan ti strawberry tadta. Nalaka ngamin nga natamaan ngay, nasapa nga nag-mites sunga bitin ti i-produce na nga bunga. Adda ngem, halos nagudua. Santo no mites ngamin ket kaykayat na ket napudot. Sunga nalaka nga agwaras,”Yagui said.

[The strawberry yield is limited. The plants were affected by mites  early on that is why the limited fruits. Mites  usually thrive  and multiply fast during  the dry season.] 

Despite the challenges, Yagui said they remain resilient  exploring alternative methods to mitigate the impact of drought on their crops.

La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda said some strawberry growers are affected by the El Niño phenomenon especially those whose crops are located in mountainous areas.

He explained that  mulching, a sustainable technology that helps sustain the moisture of the soil has been introduced to strawberry growers, as a way to mitigate  the effects of  drought, and to protect and keep the plants healthy.  

"As reported by the municipal agriculture office ket han met unay nga affected ti strawberry ta adda ti mulch na gamin ti strawberry ngay, ma-sustain ti moisture,” Salda said.

[As reported by the municipal agriculture office, strawberries are not that affected because the crops were applied with mulch to sustain the moisture.]

He added that the Department of Agriculture has already initiated an irrigation project that would help strawberry farms in  Barangays Betag, Pico and Puguis.

The mayor assured that the production of strawberries in town is sufficient for the  three week-long Strawberry Festival  set in March. One of its highlights will be the serving and selling of 10,000 strawberry cupcakes on March 17.

There are about 1,020 strawberry farmers in La Trinidad tilling about 36.4 hectares production areas. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR/Jester Batanes, BSU Intern)