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54 SCF Folio Addressing farmers’ needs through other special development programs The importance of rice and corn to the economy and welfare of many Filipinos as well as the immense challenge in improving productivity justifies government intervention through special programs. A snapshot of the rice and corn industries shows both promise and despair. With an average annual national production of 11.20 million tons (MT) for rice and 5.25 MT for corn, the Philippines incurs yearly production deficits of 1.5 MT and 1.33 MT for rice and corn, respectively (PCARRD 2005, Lantican 2004, BAS 2006). The country fills this supply gap through appropriate importation from neighboring countries. Farmers and industry people could cash in on the unmet demand through greater productivity and more efficient trade. A little over 4 million hectares are planted to rice while another 2.5 million hectares are planted to corn. Lantican (2004) estimated that for the Philippines to be self-sufficient in its grain requirements, productivity for both crops should be raised to at least 3.80T/ha. Salazar (2003), on the other hand, deduced that given an annual population growth rate of 2.2 percent and an estimated rice consumption of 105 kg per person per year, the country will need to produce 21 MT of rice in 2025 and 34 MT in 2050 to feed about 123 million and 203 million people, respectively. Adequate farm inputs and irrigation water are necessary if greater productivity and higher areas planted to crops, especially rice, are to be targeted. This is very much true for rice where increased yield would entail proper irrigation support. Corn, on the other hand, could survive in less developed agricultural lands and thrive exclusively on rainfall. Better corn productivity, however, could be had if water during the crop’s critical growth stages could be assured. Various types of assistance are being offered by the government to rice and corn farmers. For example, subsidies on seeds and other inputs, irrigation development, credit facilitation, crop insurance, farmto-market roads, capacity building through technical assistance, training and extension, postharvest development, and price support, among others, are being made available by government to farmers. Among these interventions, seed subsidy during calamities and irrigation development were mentioned by interviewed farmers as most needed and relevant in coping with seasonal climate variability. To help small farmers meet the high cost of inputs, the government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), implements programs that subsidize the price of hybrid and inbred seeds for rice; and hybrid and open pollinated varieties for corn. The seeds are provided during regular season to increase farm productivity, and at times during postcalamity relief to aid in the rehabilitation and replanting of damaged farms. Two umbrella programs within the DA, the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Rice Program and the GMA Corn Program cover the implementation of the seed subsidy programs. Input subsidies such as provision of seeds for rice and corn farmers are of big help to many. However, the cost-effectiveness of this intervention must be studied more carefully. Billions have already been incurred by the government in providing highly subsidized hybrid and inbred seeds, without the benefit of seeing dramatic productivity improvements and social benefits. Provision of seeds as part of relief assistance to areas damaged by drought/flood/typhoon, though, is commendable and necessary especially for subsistence farmers. For irrigation support, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) operated and maintained national irrigation systems (NIS) servicing around 972,692 ha in the year 2005. This consisted of 496,242 ha for wet crops and 476,450 ha for dry crops. The total irrigated area by Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS) totaled 558,598 ha comprising of 291,891 ha during wet season and 266,707 ha during the dry season. All in all, NIA (2006) estimated that the total irrigated area in both wet and dry seasons for NIS and CIS is 1,531,290 ha. As of 2007, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) also reported the construction of a total of 1,399 small water impounding projects
55 The need to help rice and corn farmers is ever pressing, especially given problems on seasonal climate variability. Government programs on input subsidy and irrigation support serve a very good purpose but prudence should also be exercised in ensuring the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of any development intervention. (SWIPs), 22,282 small farm reservoirs (SFRs) and 30,728 shallow tubewells (STWs). These are classified as smallscale irrigation systems, with each structure servicing only limited farm areas. Average service areas for the systems are 55 ha for SWIP, 1–2 ha for SFR, and 3–5 ha for STW. Though relatively limited in coverage, small scale irrigation systems have lower investment cost per hectare, and most could be developed by private persons or entities. As mitigating measure against climatic aberration like droughts and floods, irrigation facilities serve both as water reservoir and drainage. There are, however, limitations. During times of drought, for instance, the service areas of NIA-administered systems are drastically cut. The tail-end portion of serviced farms often experience water shortages during prolonged dry spells or sometimes even during regular dry season. The situation entails the use of supplementary water sources such as on-farm reservoirs or other small-scale irrigation systems. Agronomists agree that irrigation support for rice is necessary if greater productivity is to be desired. However, the cost involved in establishing, rehabilitiating, and managing irrigation systems is staggering. PCARRD (2005) estimated that the cost of just rehabilitating existing irrigation facilities is about P100,000 to P150,000 per hectare with an operation cost of P2,000–3,000 per hectare per year. As most irrigation facilities in the country service only rice, it may be wise to look into diversification, specifically into the possibility of providing irrigation to more high-value crops/commodities. Another option is the establishment of small-scale irrigation systems, which cost much less per hectare as compared to national and communal irrigation systems. The need to help rice and corn farmers is ever pressing, especially given problems on seasonal climate variability. Government programs on input subsidy and irrigation support serve a very good purpose but prudence should also be exercised in ensuring the costeffectiveness and sustainability of any development intervention. (SCF Project Updates, December 2007) Evolution of the 2007–2008 La Niña episode and the climate scenario In July 2007, signs of an evolving La Niña episode were already confirmed which later developed into a full-blown La Niña, albeit a weak one, in September 2007. This then reached its maximum strength in February 2008. By May 2008, though, transition from this cold event to a neutral condition began to be observed and this month—June—the La Niña episode is expected to end. Developments that unfolded The onset of La Niña toward the last quarter of last year brought to an end the June–July 2007 dry spell condition experienced in Regions 1, 2, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), National Capital Region (NCR), and Central Luzon (see story on the 2007 dry spell in Luzon in the SCF Project Updates issue of September 2007). With it came a significant increase in rainfall volume as three tropical cyclones immediately entered the Philippines’ area of responsibility (PAR) in August 2007, followed by another rainy month in September with the coming of another three cyclones, namely, Falcon, Goring, and Hanna. These disturbances, especially Hanna which crossed the country, brought heavy rains, widespread flooding, and landslides over Western Visayas and some areas of Luzon. This was the time when the southwest monsoon was active. As the transition period from the southwest to the northeast monsoon season took place in October, the presence of the ridge of high pressure area persisted over Luzon, signifying generally good weather with below normal rainfall condition for the area. Unfortunately, for the other parts of the country like the Visayas and some
Page 1 and 2:
SCF Folio A compilation of informat
Page 3 and 4: 3 Administration (PAGASA), the Phil
Page 5 and 6: 5 Learning the basics Dr. John Mull
Page 7 and 8: 7 The dry season is also subdivided
Page 9 and 10: 9 Tropical cyclone average tracks J
Page 11 and 12: 11 inevitably have impacts on the v
Page 13 and 14: 13 Reaching out and increasing awar
Page 15 and 16: 15 To ensure that the SCFs are rend
Page 17 and 18: Communicating through climate indic
Page 19 and 20: 19 Table 1. Awareness, usefulness,
Page 21 and 22: 21 Very often, this leads to extrem
Page 23 and 24: 23 agency, PAGASA, and sent out to
Page 25 and 26: 25 municipality. LGUs may send in t
Page 27 and 28: 27 SCF is popular in Bukidnon but..
Page 29 and 30: 29 the Provincial Agriculture Offic
Page 31 and 32: 31 Analysis and research/survey res
Page 33 and 34: 33 As the results in this initial s
Page 35 and 36: 35 Table 2. El Niño and La Niña e
Page 37 and 38: 37 average, and wet years were calc
Page 39 and 40: 39 local corn growers. In guiding f
Page 41 and 42: 41 dominated regions of northern Ne
Page 43 and 44: 43 The influence of ENSO on frost r
Page 45 and 46: 45 It is the timing of the latest f
Page 47 and 48: A model for valuing seasonal climat
Page 49 and 50: 49 And on rice crop... Nueva Ecija
Page 51 and 52: 51 Security against climate variabi
Page 53: 53 been dominating the Table 1. Bor
Page 57 and 58: 57 Figure 1. Rainfall outlook, July
Page 59 and 60: 59 In Cebu: use of SCF gives higher
Page 61 and 62: 61 units of N fertilizer based on g
Page 63 and 64: 63 Determining corn farmers’ deci
Page 65 and 66: 65 Table 2. Farmers’ responses to
Page 67 and 68: 67 Project Team Australia Dr. Peter
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