ILOILO – With the southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical storm “Crising” intensifying, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas has sounded the alarm, urging farmers to take immediate action to protect their crops, livestock, and equipment from potential flood damage and heavy rainfall.
“Mangin alerto gid kita mga ka-Agri! Mabaskug nga ulan kag hangin halin kay Bagyong Crising,” DA-Western Visayas said in a public advisory. “Tan-awon pirme ang aton mga tanum kag sapat. Kon may kahalitan sa mga sapat ukon tanom, dayon nga magpadulog sa municipal agriculture office.”
Among the key recommendations from the DA is the immediate harvesting of mature or near-mature crops to avoid losses from prolonged rain exposure.
If harvesting cannot be done right away, farmers are advised to ensure that field drainage systems are free of debris to prevent flooding.
Farmers in flood-prone areas are also advised to relocate seeds, fertilizers, and machinery to higher ground to protect them from potential water damage.
In rain-fed areas with newly sprouted plants, rainwater collection and storage is encouraged to mitigate the effects of possible dry periods that may follow heavy downpours.
The DA stressed the importance of monitoring real-time weather updates to support timely decisions on field activities.
In the event of crop or livestock losses, farmers must immediately report incidents to their barangay and agriculture offices to ensure prompt support and inclusion in post-disaster interventions.
They are also encouraged to coordinate with the Municipal, City, or Provincial Agriculture Offices, the Provincial Veterinarian, and the DA-Western Visayas Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center for further assistance.
This proactive approach, the DA emphasized, is critical in boosting the region’s agricultural resilience amid worsening climate patterns./PN
