IN A bid to lessen agricultural damage, adjustments in the planting season are being pushed by the Agriculture office.

Cameron Odsey, officer-in-charge of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Cordillera, said in preparation for strong typhoons, arrangements with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) are set in a bid to protect farmers during the wet months.

In a press conference on June 27, Regional Technical Director Danilo Daguio said a directive from DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol orders the adjustment of the planting calendar to avoid the typhoon months of October and November.

"During typhoon months we want to avoid the harvest time to fall within those months. What we will do is to adjust the planting season of the farmer. Ang nagkocontrol kasi ng pagtatanim ng farmer ay tubig, na control naman ng NIA. Ang agreement natin sa NIA ay hindi nila itaon ang repairs nila during summer time," he added.

Daguio added no abrupt implementation will be made at the moment but assured changes will be felt by 2020.

In the preparations for rainy season, a quick response fund has been set to procure materials for anticipated damage from typhoons as well as stock seeds for rice and corn.

"After the El Niño where many farmers suffered from the effects of El Niño especially in corn and rice we are into ensuring that the farmers who suffered from damages are able to plant immediately," Odsey said.

In September 2018, typhoon Ompong in the Cordillera region damaged P4.1 billion worth of crops, including P807 million rice, P2.8 billion corn and P336 million high value crops.