The city of Zamboanga, Zamboanga Del Sur, the Philippines - although El Niño is not expected to hit the country until July, farmers begin to feel the effects of dry magic on their plants. “We're not on the El Niño stage yet, but all my bitter melons are dead, D he pointed out, 40 -year -old vegetable farmer Joseph Ledesma is a mountain village 42.2 kilometers from the city. ADVERTISING Ledesma, a member of the Federation of 1,000 Zamboanga Upper Farmers Association , said the city government should take proactive and sustainable measures or suffer. However, Carmencita Sanchez, City agriculture, said in a statement on Tuesday that the city has sufficient food source for the tide over a million population of about one million in case of drought, because the city is still alive, they did not see any need to declare a disaster situation. “We are not hungry during El Niño - so if we really experience El Niño. Data from the Philippine Statistical Authority in 2018, which has a population of 977,234, which is based on the 2020 census, consumes approximately 6,000 bags or 300 metric tons of rice per day. According to Sanchez, the consumption rate was likely to increase in 2023. When cereal scarcity affected the city in 2018, rice adequacy was as low as 13 percent. However, it can currently originate from the provinces that produce rice, or the supply imported from Malaysia can touch, Sanchez said. Sharp reality However, FZUFA farmers, which provide 30 to 50 percent of the city's vegetable requirement, said that they could produce only 10 to 20 percent of the city's needs due to the dominant heat. If the dry magic continues from six months to one year, the production of vegetables may deteriorate. Ibno Turabin, who is a banana plant defending organic farming, warned that dry magic is real and “sharp reality için for the agricultural sector of the city“ My bananas are growing better, [My farm] has very little efficiency. ” In addition, the city's Sitio Buenakapok believed that nine hectares of hectares in Barangay Lanzones would be seriously affected unless the city government could think of sustainable ways to support farmers ”. Turabin stated that a dry spell would be hit every two years, but local government did not make any efforts to maximize the use of plenty of rain water during the rain season to prepare for the dry season. ADVERTISING Turabin developed his own rainwater basin system, making sure that lettuce and other vegetables he grew up on his farm could survive dry magic. Farms and household peoples will adopt the water basin developed, he said he would not have to wait for water trucks to give water during a dry spell. Turabin and Ledesma said that a local administration solution would be better because the water trucks only provide temporary relaxation. Quick response measures In the city of Davao, the city government focuses on the long -term drought on 13 Barangay in Marilog and Paquibato regions, which produce most of the city's cash crops and vegetables. City agriculture Edgardo Haspe said that they would give priority to the rapid response measures in these areas, which are thought to be vulnerable to the effects of the city El Niño. Haspe said that it may last until the first quarter of next year, which is expected to be shot in July and will provide the possibility of pests and plant diseases. Davao City Agricultural Office was preparing a list of existing irrigation facilities and began to mapping the most vulnerable areas in the agricultural land of the city, which will receive immediately funding assistance from the city. With a report from Mermelina Lacorte Related Stories Your subscription has not been saved. Please try again. Next read Gotopnews.com