Summer heat impacting Cebu farmers’ produce

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Agriculture Department (CAD) says the current summer heat can affect the production of farmers in the upland barangays, specifically on their water consumption.

Apple Tribunalo, CAD’s officer-in-charge, said 28 upland barangays had received hoses and at least five pieces of drums. The drums will be used as receptacles of water, while the hoses will be used to distribute water to areas that have lesser water supplies.

The distribution of drums and hoses last February 2 was clustered according to the damage that the calamities have brought last year.

CAD also introduced technologies and conducted trainings to upland barangays that will help them consume lesser water.

“We teach them technology that requires less water, pareha sa pamuhi og baboy (Baboyang Walang Amoy). When it comes to crops, nagkuan pud tag plastic mulch nga technology nga maka-conserve og moisture. So that way, makatabang gyud nga ma-lessen ang water consumption,” Tribunalo said.

The city farmers’ produce include pinakbet vegetables that are composed of eggplant, okra, paliya, kalabasa; chopsuey vegetables that are made of repolyo, sayote, lettuce; salad vegetables, cut flowers, and the livestock like pigs, chickens, and cows.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), for its part, has implemented greenhouses to some 10 cut-flower association and six greenhouses to the farmers in the upland barangays.

Other programs handled by CAD include Crop and Livestock Production Extension Services, Farmer’s Market in front of the Cebu City Hall and Magellan’s Cross, and the Rural Improvement Club (RIC).

RIC is a program where a group of mothers from the upland barangays are given livelihood trainings on vegetable production, swine raising, pillow case making and food processing.

RIC members also suggested to CAD for cosmetology classes as this was one of the outputs in their strategic planning.

CAD, on the other hand, plans to tap the Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) for the implementation of the program.

The CAD also plans to launch a ‘Cebu City Agri-preneur Program’ (CCAP) tentatively on the second week of May where the city government has asked Gaisano to be their direct buyer for the products that will be produced by the farmers in Cebu City.

This program was initiated so the city government can track the total production of farmers in the upland barangay which affects the economy of the city.

On their vision to help farmers earn equal as those in the Carbon Market, CCAP, also aims to broadcast prices of commodities over different radio stations.

And not only will the farmers in the mountain barangays of Cebu City know the prices, but the farmers in the provinces as well, Tribunalo said.

CCAP also opens the possibility to tap other institutions and establishments in the future.

The program is yet to be launched until the Implementing Rules and Regulations are finalized by the City government with the DA, Gaisano, and the farmers. — Mary Kristine M. Cameros, CNU Comm Intern (FREEMAN)