Majority of farmers in this city has recouped from the recent drought which hit northern Luzon two months ago, prompting La Union Provincial officials to declare the area under the State of Calamity.
City agriculture officials, led by Eduvijis Flores, officer-in-charge, told newsmen here yesterday that there is an increase of 30 percent in rice production of farmers in barangays on areas which has no water irrigation despite the calamity.
“In areas with water sources, there is a 5 percent yield increase,” Flores disclosed, however added that there has not been a total assessment because it is still the harvest season.
Farmers who sowed hybrid rice during the start of the rainy season this year has an increase of almost 50 percent in production, it was also learned.
Mayor Pablo Ortega also said that some of the city government’s calamity fund intended for the said crisis was used to buy vegetable seeds and legumes for the affected farmers to replenish their losses in rice production.
“There was no fund that came from the coffers of the national government so we save the rest for the coming typhoon months of October and November,” the Mayor added, in anticipation of the unpredictable climate changes.
Farmers are now harvesting legumes, particularly mongo, according to Flores.
The recent heavy rains brought about by typhoon “Kabayan,” however, ironically affected mango growers in the city. It has also disrupted the sun drying of harvested rice grains ready for threshing. Flores added that if the rains continue, chances are, mango flowerings would be affected resulting to low quality of production or buds would not develop into fruits due to wilting. |
