By Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The local government, through the Office of the City Agriculturist, is asking for a PHP31.4-million contingency fund to cushion the effect of the El Niño weather phenomenon, which is expected to hit the country next month.
Carmencita Sanchez, OIC city agriculturist, said Friday that of the requested amount, PHP26 million will be used by the agriculture sector while the remaining PHP5.4 million will be for the fishery sector.
Sanchez said they will conduct cloud seeding, provide the farmers drilling rigs, and purchase seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides in anticipation of the proliferation of pests after the El Niño.
She said they will also train the farmers on how to be weather-resilient, while food-for-work and cash-for-work will also be provided to farmers who will be greatly affected by the weather phenomenon.
Among the seeds they will provide to farmers, Sanchez said, are drought-resistant rice variety and crops, such as ube, sweet potato, and cassava.
She said her office will provide assistance to the fishery sector in terms of purchase and distribution of fingerlings.
“These are the things that we need to do to cushion the effect of the El Niño on the agriculture sector,” she said.
