CARIGARA, Leyte, Jan. 15 (PNA) -
The local government is stepping up preparations to assist rice farmers
mitigate the impacts of El Niño phenomenon.
Mayor Eduardo Ong said their local
farmers have much to lose due to this extreme weather event expected for the
most part of 2016.
Ong said that at least 800 sacks
of fertilizers have been provided to rice farmers in Carigara through a support
from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Likewise, he said rice farmers
have also been advised on the availability of drought-resistant palay varieties
that they can plant during the dry months caused by the climatic El Niño.
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)
has already released the list of the drought- tolerant rice varieties and where
they can be bought, it was learned.
The local government is also
preparing for possible financial assistance to farmers organization to weather
the economic impact of El Niño.
With the El Niño, the mayor said
the rice farmers may not just suffer from low production volume but also
decreased farm gate price of rice, which heavily affects their income and,
hence, their ability to meet their own needs. (PNA)
ZST/SQM/AHLETTE C. REYES
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