Labella mulls possibility of building makeshift barns

CEBU City Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella wants the City Agriculturist Department (CAD) to look into the possibility of providing makeshift barns for farmers in the mountain barangays.

Persistent rains between Jan. 8 and 20 coupled with the unusually cold weather in the mountain barangays caused some animals, mostly cattle, to die.

Labella also wants the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) to wind up its monitoring on the number of animal deaths so proactive measures can start.

Industries

“Cutflower and vegetables are the biggest industries in our mountain barangays,” Labella told Sun.Star Cebu.

Labella also agreed with Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president and Councilor Phillip Zafra on the move to insure farmers.

The cost seemed prohibitive but Labella said it is worth looking into so the City will know how it will be of help.

Calamity fund

The Cebu City Council has declared 17 mountain barangays under a state of calamity so the calamity fund can be immediately released.

Vitamins and supplements would be very important for both the animals and crops this season because the cold weather and the rains may last until February.

The barangay captains are collating the names of farmers who might need help.

Sudlon II Barangay Captain Winefredo Macario formulated his own record system where the farmer writes down his or her name, the crops that were damaged by rain and cold, the land area and the number of days a particular crop is expected to grow.

Macario said CAD wants seedlings, fertilizers, vitamins and supplements given directly to the farmers.

CAD has recommended P2.2 million worth of seedlings, fertilizers, vitamins and supplements purchased and distributed to the affected farmers.

Sweet corn

Adlaon Barangay Captain Elvis Narra said that normally, a farmer could earn P20,000 to P25,000 for a kilo of grains of sweet corn.

Macario said a can of tomato seedlings could earn a farmer P35,000 to P200,000 depending on the market.

As far as Franklin Seno of the Hillyland Management Board is concerned, the damage felt by the farmers was within the normal range.

He said that the first month of the year is always cold and rainy.

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