NegOcc Vet readies measures to cushion effects of dry spell

BACOLOD CITY — The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental has started monitoring the effects of extreme heat to livestock and poultry, following reports of damage to rice farms in the southern part of the province.

Dr. Ryan Janoya, head of PVO Animal Health and Meat Inspection Services Division, said as of Tuesday, their field monitoring did not indicate significant losses, so far among livestock and poultry farms.

“We have been anticipating a period of extreme heat due to climate change every year. Losses before were not that huge as local raisers had prepared and mitigating measures were also in place,” he said.

Janoya added that the PVO, through the district veterinarians and livestock inspectors, continuously reminds backyard raisers to implement measures to lessen the possible adverse effects of the dry weather to animals.

Considered most vulnerable to extreme heat among livestock are swine and broiler for poultry.

A swine has no sweat glands thus the animal has difficulty regulating its body temperature and needs to be bathed frequently.

Broiler is fast-growing and has fast metabolism, but weak in coping with heat regulation.

Janoya said they have been advising raisers to avoid putting their animals in areas with high temperature like those exposed to sunlight.

“It’s better to place animals in shaded areas like under the trees, and provide them sufficient amount of water,” he added.

Janoya said raisers should also provide additional supplements to animals like multivitamins and electrolytes so that they would become resistant to diseases.

With the heat associated with El Niño projected to intensify this month, the PVO has briefed veterinarians in different districts and local government units to immediately report animal deaths caused by extreme heat.

“Proper reporting is essential as it enables the PVO to immediately assess the situation and provide technical assistance, if necessary,” Janoya said.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist is also validating reports of the damage caused by extreme heat to some rice farms in the southern Negros town of Cauayan. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063627

Extreme heat hits rice farms in southern Negros

BACOLOD CITY — The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in Negros Occidental has monitored reports of damage to rice farms in a southern municipality due to extreme heat.

Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said as of Sunday, they are validating reports which indicate that farmers in Cauayan whose rice crops are now in different stages have incurred damages.

“Lack of water in this area might be already an effect of the upcoming summer season intensified by El Niño phenomenon. We are also monitoring other localities in the province,” he said.

A rice field in Sipalay City, situated next to Cauayan town, hit by dry spell in early 2016
*File photo courtesy of OPA-Negros Occidental*

Masculino said OPA validators are assessing whether the damage in Cauayan is an effect of dry spell or not.

Late last month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in an advisory that a mild El Niño phenomenon has already been affecting some provinces in the country.

A weak El Niño is occurring in the tropical Pacific region and will likely continue until the second quarter of the year, it said, adding that this may cause varying impacts such as warmer than average surface temperature and prolonged dry season.

Masculino advised farmers to observe “timing” in planting crops, and to avoid planting rice in areas where water sources are depleted for the meantime.

Farmers may instead resort to vegetable production, he said.

The OPA chief said that for sugarcane, the main crop of Negros Occidental, 35 percent of the total farms is still up for harvest.

“The remaining areas for planting may have problems especially when the farms have no near water sources like irrigation,” he added.

Based on weather forecast, extreme heat and its effects will be felt most during this month as rainfall is way below normal.

“Given this projection, we could expect that summer and El Niño effects can be felt only in a short span of time,” Masculino said.

He said, however, that mitigating measures should be put in place to lessen the possible adverse effects of dry weather to the province’s agriculture sector.

Funds will be allocated for possible cloud seeding operation, and the OPA also requested for support from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Western Visayas, he added.

Masculino said they are also speeding up the procurement of equipment such as water and irrigation pumps especially for areas that need water. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063494

NegOcc gears up to cushion effects of El Niño

BACOLOD CITY — The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) is gearing up to cushion possible effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon on crops in Negros Occidental.

“The province is initiating ways to mitigate its effects, such as cloud seeding,” Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said Thursday.

A parched land in a southern Negros town in early 2016 as a result of prolonged dry spell in the province.
*File photo from OPA-Negros Occidental*

He added that the OPA is also eyeing the acquisition of water and irrigation pumps for farmers and has been monitoring the weather situation since last year as part of its preparations.

El Niño, characterized by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP), could affect the normal rainfall pattern in the country, generally resulting in reduced rainfall.

In 2016, the OPA reported dry spell damage and losses of about PHP470 million in the agro-fishery sector of Negros Occidental.

In its El Niño Advisory No. 1 issued on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) reported that climate monitoring and analyses indicate that the unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the CEEP, which began in November last year, is expected to become a full-blown El Niño.

The weather pattern is “anticipated to be weak and will likely result in below normal rainfall conditions in different parts of the country in the coming months,” it added.

“All concerned agencies and the general public are advised to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential adverse impacts of El Niño. PAGASA will closely monitor these conditions and regular updates and advisories shall be issued as appropriate,” the agency further said. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062684