By Nycel Jane Dela
The Department of Agriculture (DA) warned that 60% of corn farms in Capiz may be at risk from the impending super El Niño. The weather phenomenon is projected to hit beginning November this year and last until the first quarter of 2027.
Engr. Jimmy Eledia Jr., DA-Western Visayas senior agriculturist and disaster risk reduction and management focal person, said that around 5,940 hectares of corn farms in the province may suffer from the extreme El Niño.
Overall, DA-Western Visayas considers Capiz as the second-most vulnerable province in both the agricultural and fisheries sector when super El Niño will hit. The most vulnerable will be Iloilo.
Speaking at the PIA-Capiz Kapihan, Eledia said DA-Western Visayas is ramping up its preparations to mitigate the impact of the super El Niño on the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
On its part, the Capiz Provincial Agriculturist Office is recommending that both corn and rice farmers find alternatives and shift to drought-tolerant and short-term crops depending on soil condition, water availability, and production costs.
Acting Agriculturist Raoul Perez recommended the planting of watermelon, melon, squash, sweet potato, mung bean, and string beans.
Perez noted that the DA Research Station in Sigma continues to supply sweet potato cuttings not only to Capiz, but also to Iloilo and Aklan.
Perez added that government interventions will prioritize approximately 13,000 hectares of irrigated rice lands that representing about 23% of Capiz’s rice production area.
“Waswason ta ang bulig, i-identify naton ang pwede. Buligan naton ang irrigated for rice. Lantawon ta ang tanan nga posibilidad kon ano ang mas maayo sa duta nila—corn, high-value crops, ukon iban pa nga alternate crops,” Perez said.
