645 hectares Ilocos Norte farmlands drying up

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—Rising temperatures have dried up farmlands in Ilocos Norte, now reaching to 645 hectares, a report from the Provincial Agriculture said.

In a joint monitoring activity conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAG), Provincial Agriculturist Norma Lagmay said they are now coming up with quick plan measures to help farmers cope with the dry spell.

So far, Ms. Lagmay said there are about 645.5 hectares of fruits and vegetable farms, mostly in the southern and eastern towns of Ilocos Norte which are affected by drought.

“At present, we are still validating reports from the different municipalities if these affected areas are totally affected or partially affected,” Ms. Lagmay added.

As part of the coping mechanisms, the OPAG has been lending water pump units to farmers’ organizations in need of water supply while a farmers’ advisory has been issued to educate more farmers on water saving technologies or the so-called farm techniques on efficient water management.

Among these techniques include the adoption of mulching technology or the use of indigenous materials such as dried leaves or any applicable farm waste on top of a soil to preserve its moisture and fertility. Farmers were also advised not to burn farm wastes and convert them instead into organic fertilizer.

To conserve water, the OPAG is discouraging the use of flash irrigation in corn and vegetable plantations as well as the watering of plants between 10 am to 2 pm, which would have the highest temperatures of the day.

Meanwhile, small farm reservoirs are now also being cleaned including the repair and rehabilitation of water impounding dams in time for the upcoming rainy season.

“We need to prepare for prolonged drought as well as to ready our water catchment basin in time for the rainy days,” Ms. Lagmay told farmers.

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