Tuesday, October 02, 2007 Crop management needed especially during flooding By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
“EDUCATION and attitude are still the two factors that can minimize impact of typhoons and flooding to crops.”
So said Arsenio Barcelona, president of Harbest Agribusiness Corp. and consultant to non-government organizations (NGOs) nationwide, after knowing that the cost of crop damage was at P20 million based on the initial report of the Provincial Agriculturist last Friday.
“Why education and attitude? It’s because Negros could have already diversified to other crops and farmers could have invested in simple technology that can help manage typhoons and floods,” Barcelona explained.
“Typhoons and floods had already been with us for centuries yet we neither improved nor developed technology to manage these,” he added.
“Of course, both government and individual farm stakeholders have to work hand-in-hand. For decades now, did we develop a superior drainage system or land use plan basic to an agricultural economy? The problem is in the fully receded forest system, clogged waterways going to the sea, and the drainage systems that could channel water away from crops,” Barcelona said.
Barcelona does not believe in the “high tide reason” of flooding, saying, waterways are designed by nature to “flush” and drain water into the sea. “What are we doing with our natural waterways is rather the problem,” he said, stressing that the P20 million crop damage should already prompt government to study the watercourses.
“We have enough crop damages ever since, yet local government units (LGUs) remain unexplainably helpless,” he also said.
Barcelona added, “In the 60s, I was still in school, we are already hearing Negrenses talking about diversification. Together with diversification, we could have already studied the technology of elevated planting and film mulching to prevent water drowning of crops’ roots.”
“Also, if we were serious about diversification, we could have already engaged in planting crops inside sturdy greenhouses so to produce crops that can compete in the international markets,” he also said.
“Diversification and technology can even steer our economy towards the ill-effects of land reform. But since we are stuck with the mono-crop system, then we deserve the kind of economy we have right now,” lamented Barcelona.
But Barcelona said, “It’s not too late yet. Let’s start small but coupled it with real education and attitude.”
