A group warned this Monday that the supply of vegetables and rice might decrease due to the El Niño phenomenon.
According to Leonardo Montemayor of the Federation of Free Farmers, their production may decrease because it needs a lot of water.
“Magde-depende ‘yan kung gaano katindi ang magiging El Niño. Kung masyadong severe at talagang dry na dry ang klima, kahit sa gulay ay magkakaroon ‘yan ng impact but if it is moderate or mild, hindi kasing lakas ang tama niyan,” said Montemayro, former secretary of Department of Agriculture (DA).
He said the DA should prepare for the possible replacement of high-value crops to be planted.
“Kung mabibibigyan ng tamang advisory na tatama ang El Niño sa lugar na ito at ganito katindi, baka sa halip na magtanim ng palay, makapagtanim ng ibang pananim ang magsasaka,” said Montemayor.
“Kung magkakaroon ng shift to other plants, sana naka-ready [ang] planting materials, kung ito ay gulay or root crops in some cases, sana naka-ready para madali ang paglipat,” he added.
According to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), climate change has a negative effect on the yield, not only on vegetables but on other crops.
There are measures that the bureau is said to be implemented so that farmers can prepare for El Niño.
Supply of vegetables, rice may decrease due to El Niño: group
“Tuluy-tuloy ang interventions para sa mga magsasaka, including irrigation to mitigate magiging effects nito. We’re also advising farmers sa cropping calendar, kung mayroon mang itatanim na water-sensitive, i defer na muna nila,” said BPI Spokesperson Jose Diego Roxas.
According to the Bureau of Plant Industry, climate smart vegetables or those that can survive even when the weather is hot and there is little water have been developed for a long time.
It is said that this will help farmers to harvest even if there is an El Niño or other climate change.
Various institutions are said to be helping use technology to promote climate-smart varieties.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr also emphasized the value of water supply in the country’s dealing with El Niño.
The government is looking for a way to stop being dependent on underground water, and one of the visible solutions is collecting rainwater, said Marcos.