Tubod, Lanao del Norte – With record-setting temperatures, farmers here are starting to feel the effects of El Niño in their crop production. However, the provincial government is initiating intervention programs that will lessen the adverse effects of El Niño in Lanao del Norte.

As one of the identified rice-producing province in the country, almost 3 thousand of the province’s 15 thousand hectares of rice field has already been affected by the weather phenomenon resulting to a rice production loss of more than 6 thousand metric tons.

“We are expecting El Niño to affect us until July of this year. Programs are already in place to mitigate its effects in the province especially in our agricultural sector”, assured Provincial Agriculturist Letecia Ditucalan.

The province is also projected to lose more than 3 thousand metric tonnes in its corn production with 3 thousand hectares of corn affected.

For high-value crops, almost 700 metric tonnes is expected to disappear from its production if the seasonal weather system continues.

A thriving livelihood in the province, particularly in Brgy. Tanguegueron in the capitol town of Tubod, is seaweed farming. But even this sea-based economy is reflecting the negative impact of El Niño with more than 150 hectares affected.

To halt the sliding volume of agricultural products, local agriculturists in every municipality has been gathering data from farmers on the needed farm inputs and equipment that can aid them in maintaining their production level.

The information gathered will be submitted to the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 10 for evaluation and possible technical assistance.

The DA regional office is scheduled to convene the provincial members of El Niño Task Force on April 29 to draw up suitable programs that will address the present agricultural demands of local farmers. VNL/PIO-LDN