THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging small sugarcane farmers in Negros Occidental to plant alternative crops during “tiempos muertos” or dead season as another source of livelihood during this long off-milling period.
DA Regional Director Joyce Wendam Monday, May 8, said sugar farmers in the province, who are members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers, has asked the agency for livelihood support as the lean period approaches.
It is expected to start by June and extend towards September.
Wendam said on the meeting with sugarcane farmers at the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel on Wednesday, May 10, the DA-Negros Island Region (NIR) will present various programs which the latter could avail, including the provision of alternative crop seeds and planting materials.
“Vegetables especially legumes like mung beans are potential alternative crops for sugarcane,” she said, adding that these crops as well as corn are viable commodities even there is depletion of water resources brought by prolonged dry weather.
Aside from planting materials, DA-NIR can also provide organic fertilizers to small sugarcane farmers, who may be adversely affected by “tiempos muertos.”
Wendam said they may also tap the Sugar Regulatory Administration and Department of Agrarian Reform for possible support it can extend to the farmers, who are also agrarian reform beneficiaries.
“We will try to asses first the specific needs of sugarcane farmers and identify appropriate interventions that could help them sustain their livelihood during off-season for milling,” she said.
Wendam said if extreme heat prevails towards the end of the year, wherein onset of El Niño phenomenon is expected, it is best for farmers to mechanize water catchment and storage technologies like rainwater harvester.
Alternative crops, especially organically grown, only have small water requirement thus, mechanization of these technologies could really help farmers sustain production, the DA official said.
Another advantage of planting alternative crops is that, unlike sugarcane which needs to be processed into sugar, vegetables are “easy to market” commodities.
It can therefore augment the income of every sugarcane farmer-family, Wendam added.
