The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has advised rice farmers to prepare for early harvesting of the ongoing rice crop to avoid potential losses expected from an El Nino induced drought, according to a news release on the government website.
Conditions were dry last September and are expected to remain dry until July this year. A DA official noted that the farmers were advised to plant early maturing rice varieties, which could be harvested in three months. She added that harvesting of rice should be completed before the dry spell reaches its peak. "At this time that the peak of dry spell has started, farmers should now shift from crops that need less amount of water but still can survive the [drier] weather condition[s] like corn, legumes, and nuts," she was quoted as saying.
The DA also reportedly set up various programs to address weather phenomenon in various stages, according to the news release. The DA officials are undertaking training sessions to farmers explaining them about the effects of both El Nino and La Nina on agriculture.
According to the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), El Ninoinduced dry conditions are likely to affect Region 1 provinces, including La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan.
The PSA is estimating the Philippines to produce around 8.55 million tons of paddy rice in the first half of 2015 (January June), up about 2.02% from around 8.38 million tons produced during the same period in 2014.
Source - http://oryza.com/
