THE Cebu City Agriculture Department (CAD) has allocated P160 million for farmers in preparation for El Niño.
Cebu City Agriculturist Joelito Baclayon said on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, that the newly proposed budget has been allotted for agricultural aid and protective culture among farmers.
This protective culture aims to produce high-quality crops, which involves mixed cropping, rotation cropping, and rain harvesting, among others.
"The mayor instructed me in fact nga e-double nato ang amount kay para gyud not only to address this El Niño, but of course para ma-sustain ug ma-continue nato ang mga panginahanglanon," he said.
(The mayor, in fact, instructed me to double the amount not only to address this El Niño, but of course to sustain and continue the sup[port for whatever the farmer needs.)
He said the proposed budget was considered in accordance with the appropriate programs and facilities for farmers, especially to specific areas that need utmost aid.
"Kining giproposed nato nga budget kay gibase gyud ni sa appropriate pud nga program or facilities nga atong ihatag sa mag-uuma. It might not be e-distribute nato sa barangays but in specific areas," he said.
(This proposed budget is based on appropriate programs or facilities that we want to provide to farmers. It might not be distributed to barangays, but in specific areas.)
Solutions
Baclayon said they have already provided different solutions to farmers as they prepare for the effects of El Niño.
He said 30 mountain barangays have already been clustered, wherein farmers have been registered to easily identify them during the allocation of assistance.
He said they have also introduced to farmers open-pollinated variety (OPV) of crops that may thrive during intense heat, and taught them to practice drip irrigation to conserve water.
Baclayon encouraged the farmers to adopt the different alternative food sources, and not just rely on rice.
He said farmers have also been provided satellite markets where they can display and sell their products directly to consumers.
"Aron matagaan og dako ug maayo nga assistance ang atong mag-uuma, nagsige tag set up og satellite markets aron maka experience sila nga diretso gyud sila mag baligya," he said.
(In order to give good assistance to farmers, we always set up satellite markets so they can directly sell their products.)
Future plans
Baclayon said the department is planning to establish bagsakan or Barangay Food Terminal in mountain village to provide farmers a space for them to sell their products.
The agriculture department also intends to provide hauling or transport vehicle for farmers in delivering their commodities to different places.
"Aside sa bagsakan, ang plano is to provide farmers hauling or transport vehicle aron ang quality sa produkto, presko ug kalidad ra gihapon," he said.
(Aside from bagsakan, we plan to provide farmers hauling or transport vehicle to ensure that their products are still fresh and in good quality.)
Baclayon urged the public to work together in preparing for El Niño, especially in the conservation of water.
"Magtinabangay ta nga magconserve ta sa tubig not only for agriculture, para sad sa adlaw-adlaw natong panginahanglan," he said.
(Let us help one another in conserving water not only for agriculture, but also for our daily use.) (Camille Erika Butas, CNU intern)