Pagasa, FAO link up to help farmers, fisherfolk

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in developing technical products that would help farmers and fisherfolk improve their livelihood by using the available climate and weather information.

Apart from FAO, PAGASA is also working closely with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in this project that is also seen to capacitate PAGASA technical personnel to “enhance its subseasonal to seasonal forecast products and services that would cater to both the agriculture and the fisheries sectors.”

“The project targets to increase the resiliency of farmers and fisherfolk on weather and climate related risks,” PAGASA acting administrator Vicente Malano said.

The state weather bureau also said the project will entail installation of automatic weather stations and mentoring of local weather monitors to better observe various atmospheric parameters for basic forecasting and assessment of past phenomena and how it could affect, for example, tilapia farming.

FAO representative Claudio Gabinete explained that these knowledge and technical products will come in the form of technology bulletin that will advise farmers on when to farm, plant or harvest agriculture products, and in the case of fishermen, when it is the best time to fish. “We all know that their livelihood depends on the weather condition,” he added.

Meanwhile, Roy Ortega of BFAR said that the project will also help agri-technicians be proficient in science and agrometeorology.

Among the informative products launched last week were technology bulletin on Grouper Cage Aquaculture, Seaweed Aquaculture, Grouper Pond Aquaculture, Shellfish Aquaculture, Shrimps Aquaculture, Tilapia Cage Aquaculture, Tilapia Pond Aquaculture, Milkfish Cage and Pen Aquaculture, Mangrove Crab Pond Aquaculture, and Documentation of Practical Innovative Approaches on Impact on Climate Change.

Ortega said that a “Five-Day Weather Forecast and Aquaculture Management Advisory Board” will also be provided to help those in the agriculture and fisheries sector adapt to existing climate and weather conditions.

The information provided in the bulletins are available online.