New farming method proven to defy El Niño phenomenon

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=805113
• Thursday, September 17, 2015

By Cris Diaz [(PNA), CTB/CD]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Sept. 17 (PNA) – Rice farmers in Northern Mindanao are now applying new farming techniques to counter the possible effects of the El Niño phenomenon in Northern Mindanao, an official from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said Thursday.

Ramon A. Bugacia, NIA regional manager in Northern Mindanao, said that since NIA has launched an information blitz about cropping as a new farming technique to cushion the impact of the dry spell as many farmers are now heeding the call.

“The NIA launched the information campaign two weeks ago about the “cropping techniques” in the planting of rice to counter the ill-effects of the El Niño phenomenon in the region,” Bugacia said.

Bugacia said that the usual rice planting practices in the planting of the rice crops twice in a year only. Thus, between the November to April dry season and the May to October wet season.

He said that the cropping technique requires farmers to open a new 120-day window for third cropping between the two seasons (wet and dry) so they could have an additional season worth of harvest.

Most of the rice crops in Region 10 are confined in the lowlands, planted in 30,000 hectares. Of these, 17,000 hectares are located in Bukidnon while the rest are distributed to the rest of the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin and Lanao Del Norte.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had earlier forecast that the El Niño episode will last until April 2016.