Supertyphoons Karen and Lawin brought damages in Central and Northern
Luzon affecting the country’s major rice-producing provinces. According to the
Department of Agriculture (DA), Karen alone left almost P3 Billion in
agricultural damages.
To help farmers recover from
the damages brought by the said calamities, experts at the Philippine Rice
Research Institute (PhilRice) recommended strategies on how to manage crops
after typhoons.
For those who were able to
harvest before Karen and Lawin hit the country, farmers are advised to use the
mechanical dryer for drying of harvested grains.
“Seeds must have drying
temperature not higher than 43°C. It is advantageous for farmers to use the
mechanical dryer as it allows drying during unfavorable weather conditions,”
said Arnold Juliano, PhilRice’s agricultural engineer.
In harvesting crops submerged
in water or mud, farmers can use the combine harvester provided
that the field is already dry.
“If the crop submerged in
water is easy to drain, combine harvester can be used provided that no or
minimum moisture is present in the panicles to minimize grain losses during
operation. For submerged crop with drainage problem, immediate manual
harvesting is advisable to save the grains from deterioration,” Juliano
explained.
To know more about the practical recommendations on how
to manage crops after typhoons, farmers may call or text the PhilRice Text
Center 0920 911 1398. (PhilRice
news)
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