PAG-ASA: Low rainfall in July; Asks rice farmers to plant in May
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical-Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) advised Boholano farmers to plant rice early in May to beat the expected below normal condition of rainfall.
Leonardo Samar, chief of the PAG-ASA local office during the Provincial Coordinating Council for Agricultural Fishery (PCCAF) meeting last Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at the Casa Rey Francis, Poblacio I, Tagbilaran City said that based on monthly rainfall forecast of PAG-ASA, the month of April is normal (dry), May and June will be above normal (dry and wet) but for the month of July will be below normal wherein we will experience a 60% reduction of rainfall.
Samar told the Municipal Agriculturist (MAs) / Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAOs), rice technicians, irrigators and Local Government Unit representatives that if the farmers will plant rice in the early part of May, the rice would be at the panicle stage in July which is already safe when the absence of rain occur.
Engr. Evelyn Putong of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) 7 had reported on region 7’s status in irrigation development, region 7 farming status as of March 31, 2018 and cropping calendar and planting pattern (CCPP) in Bohol.
Engr. Putong clarified that the CCPP is the basis for the water delivery schedule to service areas of the four irrigation systems (IS) in the province.
She said the water delivery of Bayongan IS has scheduled on May 21 for upstream and June 11 for downstream; Capayas IS (May 21-upstream, June 4-downstream); Malinao IS (May 7-downstream, May 28-upstream); and Talibon IS (May 28, 2018).
Putong also reported that during the cropping farming status as of March 31, 2018 in the province of Bohol, there were 16,962.46 hectares (has.) of irrigated rice lands were planted.
She urged the farmers who are members of the irrigators associations to follow the water delivery schedule to avoid inconvenience to other farmers.
Erlindo Samblaceño, rice focal person Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) informed that in the next cropping season there will be “Rice Techno Demo” to be conducted in a 24-hectare of rice farms in Talibon, Bohol.
The province would be the seventh province to be conducted of the rice demo to test what varieties of rice is suitable to the rice ecosystems.
The seeds companies will provide the rice seeds in different varieties.
Gloria Arac, provincial rice report officer urged the 32 MAs/MAOs and 87 rice technicians to submit their reports punctually regarding the status of the planted and harvested rice in their respective localities.
Helen Igot, Agribusiness Division, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported that the Bohol delegates to the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) 28th Regional Farm Family Congress and 4H Youth Encampment on April 18-20, 2018 held at Cebu Business Hotel, Cebu City came home with two major regional championship awards and two runner-ups for four 4H major activities.
She reminded the participants of the PCCAF meeting to submit their nominees for the SUHID sa Malampusong Mag-uumang Bol-anon because until now the OPA has not received any nominees for the different categories of the search after the office sent the letters addressed to the offices of the mayors, MAOs/MAs last March 10, 2018 inviting them to submit nominations.
Igot informed them that the deadline for the submission will be on May 30, 2018 and the evaluation of the nominees will start immediately.
The awarding of the winners will be done during the Sandugo Agri-Fair Program in July this year.
The PCCAF meeting was called by the PGBh through the OPA and was facilitated by Evelyn Maligsa of the Planning Division. (Atoy Cosap)
