ILOILO City – With the dry season fast approaching and rainfall expected to decline, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging Western Visayas farmers to shift to heat-resilient, high-value crops to cushion the region from vegetable and onion shortages.
Following the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast that the transition to the dry season has begun, DA warned that reduced rainfall could limit water availability for irrigation — making crop selection critical in the coming months.
The agency is encouraging farmers to plant vegetables commonly used in pinakbet dish such as squash, okra, eggplant, and beans, along with tomatoes, onions, and fruits like melon, watermelon, mango, and cucumber, which can withstand hotter conditions and require less water.
“Tungod summer season na subong, malipay gid ang aton farmers nga magtanum,” said DA Region 6 regional technical director for operations Maria Teresa Solis.
Solis explained that once the dry season sets in, rainfall is expected to decline, making it harder for farmers to store water for irrigation. This makes high-value crops that do not require heavy watering more practical and profitable.
She particularly emphasized the need to boost onion and mung bean production, noting that Western Visayas still relies on supply from outside the region.
“Actually, gina-import pa naton ang monggo nga ginagamit or maghimu ang mga bakery sang ensaymada and other pagkaon or bread nga may monggo nga ingredient,” Solis added.
According to Solis, vegetable supply in the region remains insufficient, prompting DA-6 to push continued planting of high-value crops this summer.
To support farmers, DA-6 distributes seedlings through Provincial Agriculture Offices (PAOs), which coordinate with local government units (LGUs) to ensure proper allocation.
The agency is also conducting training programs in partnership with PAOs and Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs) to update farmers on vegetable production techniques and the latest farming technologies.
For livestock, Solis recommended raising goats due to their minimal forage requirements.
She also reminded farmers raising poultry and livestock to ensure adequate hydration and shelter during extreme heat.
“Halongan gid sang farmers ang ila mga sapat kag indi pag-initan. Painumon sang tubig,” she said.
Solis added that fruit-bearing crops such as mangoes, melons, and watermelons are ideal during summer as demand increases for hydrating produce./PN
