The Department of Agriculture (DA) is promoting its project on strengthening the farming community’s understanding of climate change.

Crisante Rosario, focal person of the climate change adaptation program of the DA-Cordillera, said on Friday that this would enable farmers to make the right decisions on when to plant, what to plant, and whether to harvest early.

In an interview, Rosario said the climate change forum held on Thursday was attended by farmer leaders and municipal agriculturists in the Cordillera region. It included a seminar, orientation, and a sharing-of-knowledge session to help farmers “be adept in the topic and motivate them on how they operate their farms.”

He said that during the 2023-2024 strong El Niño, a massive drought was experienced in corn, rice, and vegetable farms in the region, which led to PHP1.2 billion in losses due to the stunting of plants.

“We can see and feel the effects of climate change, which is either shortage of water or oversupply of water that damage the crops,” Rosario said.

He said that the DA is championing the use of tools that help support decisions based on climate vulnerability assessment, as well as maps that planners could use to identify which areas must be planted with specific crops and prioritize programs and projects.

“The Agroclimatic Advisory portal that is linked to PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), which is installed in the mobile phone, will serve as a guide to farmers. The notification push aligned with PAGASA provides a seasonal and a special weather forecast, which also has a feature that recommends possible actions or practices,” Rosario said.

He said farmers could be provided with assistance in deciding to harvest mature crops before a weather disturbance comes.

Rosario said the DA is also pushing for the adoption of crop programming, which is most practicable during extraordinary weather systems.

“There are crops that can only be planted on certain months and certain years,” he said.

Engineer Larry Esperanza, weather specialist of the PAGASA-Baguio synoptic station, said in a separate interview, “Napakalawak ang climate change, buong mundo ito either kakulangan ng tubig o sobra-sobrang tubig, depende sa season (Climate change is far-reaching, involving the whole world. [There are] issues of oversupply or lack of water).”

He said that knowing about climate change would enable farmers to track the intensity of typhoons, which would help them protect their crops.

“Their cropping season changes due to changes in the weather system. That is why it is important to understand and watch out for it,” he added.

Esperanza also mentioned the frost phenomenon, which used to occur during November or December but is now experienced during January or February, sometimes until March.

He said that by understanding climate change, farmers can appropriately plan to ensure a good harvest and boost food production. (PNA)