Dry spell hits Misamis farmlands

Dry spell hits Misamis farmlands

Friday, April 9, 2010

SOME P30-million worth of crops in 672 hectares of farmlands in Misamis Oriental were reported to have been totally damaged due to the onslaught of El Nino phenomenon, according to the provincial agricultural office.

Provincial agriculturist Danilo Maputol reported during a recent Regional El Nino Task Force meeting that the dry spell wrought havoc to some 772 farmers in 10 farming municipalities in Misamis Oriental, particularly those who planted rice, corn and vegetables in the months of January and February, this year.

"There is no chance of recovery for those crops in 672 hectares that was reported," Maputol said, adding that crops planted in another 292 hectares may still have a chance of recovery if temperatures drop due to isolated inter-tropical convergence zone-induced rain showers, as reported by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

But Pagasa said the relatively high maximum temperatures, ranging from 32 to 37 degrees centigrade in Cagayan de Oro and the rest of Northern Mindanao, will persist until June this year.

As reported by the provincial agricultural office, vegetables and high-value commercial crops have the biggest estimated cost of damage during the three-month period at P12.784 million in 130 hectares, affecting 313 farmers in the municipalities of Balingoan, Binuangan, Gitagum, Initao, Kinoguitan, and Lugait.

Some 133 hectares planted with corn which are already in vegetative and reproductive stages and valued at about P4.131 million were also scorched and dried up due to extreme heat, affecting close to 300 farmers in 10 municipalities, including farming areas in Jasaan, Magsaysay, and Tagoloan.

Maputol specifically pointed to the rice fields in Magsaysay, where the irrigation facility of said municipality was damaged during the November 2009 flooding.

"Lack of water destroyed some 117 hectares of irrigated rice fields, the damage of which is estimated at P8.895 million," he said.

Even fruit trees were not spared by high temperatures and lack of rain water in about 292 hectares of orchard and the destruction could reach more than P4 million, according to the provincial agricultural office head.

Maputol said Governor Oscar S. Moreno has expressed deep concern over the damaging effects of El Nino that the latter has ordered the distribution of 100 water hand pumps with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture regional office 10.

"We are just making sure that the recipients of the hand pumps have open sources of water so that the equipment could be fully utilized," the agricultural officer explained, adding that the El Nino Task force is also into facilitating the availability of small water impounding projects out of DA's mitigating funds.(Sun.Star/MisOr PPO)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/dry-spell-hits-misamis-farmlands