By Adrian H. Halili, Reporter
THE recent spate of typhoons traversing the Philippines has forced farmers to re-evaluate their planting strategies, with quick-to-mature crops now in favor to increase the likelihood that harvests can be brought in once storm warnings are raised.
Nilor S. Go, a rice and yellow-corn farmer from Isabela province, said white corn, the variety used for human consumption, as opposed to the yellow type used in animal feed, is now looking more attractive because of the shorter time to harvest.
“Right now, we are trying to look at crops that can grow in the next 70 to 75 days. The alternative is sweet (white) corn,” he said in a phone interview.
“Isabela is not known for producing white corn. Here we normally plant yellow corn for feed. So, we’re trying to consider food-grade corn. It is also more of a high value crop,” he added.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is setting aside P5.32 billion for the National Corn Program next year, to fund new irrigation facilities, post-harvest facilities, planting material, and fertilizer.
Mr. Go said the weather disturbances in recent weeks wiped out much of his standing crop, mostly corn.
“One typhoon is more than enough to destroy our harvest, but six consecutive typhoons really battered us,” he added.
He said that his farm entered the yellow corn growing season last month, and this was the crop that the typhoon hit.
“Yellow corn takes four months to grow. If we were to plant again in December, it will start flowering by February, which puts it in the dry season,” he said.
The government weather service, known as PAGASA, logged six successive typhoons approaching or traversing the eastern and northern Philippines in November.
The DA estimated that damage to farms at about P10 billion, according to initial reports following Tropical Cyclone Ofel (International name: Usagi), the last of the storms for which estimates have been released. It has yet to report the damage caused by Pepito (Man-Yi).
The DA has said that producers are having difficulty in recovering from the recent weather disturbances.
According to Mr. Go it would take him four to five crops to fully recover from damage inflicted by the storms.
The Philippines is set to face an increased likelihood of tropical cyclone activity in the coming month due to La Niña.
PAGASA has cited a 71% likelihood of La Niña setting in between November and January, lasting until early next year.
Mr. Go said that he was also looking to expand into value-added processing, rather than selling his crops to processors.
“We need to process our own produce. As farmers, we are always at the mercy of the middlemen or the processing industry,” he added.
He said his Isabela farm typically supplies yellow corn to feed manufacturers.
“Our plan for this coming season… is to really diversify our crops. We’re looking to expand to fruit bearing trees,” he added.
Before becoming a farmer, Mr. Go had worked for an information technology firm in Metro Manila. But the 2019 coronavirus pandemic had caused him to return to his home province and try his hand at farming.
