CABARROGUIS, Quirino (PIA) - - To anticipate the possible effects of climate change and natural disasters,  the provincial government thru  the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), has implemented a soil conservation project entitled “Sustainable Agricultural Economic Program to Anticipate Climate Change and Natural Disasters” in some disaster-prone barangays in the province.

Provincial Agriculturist Florence C. Mangoba said the projects aimed to promote contour farming technology on sloping areas to address the continuous thinning of topsoil as source of nutrients and minerals essential for good agricultural production.

“It is a five-year project, first implemented in 2018 at Brgy. San Pascual, Diffun, with 43 farmer adaptors of contour farming technology. To ensure its sustainability, it was expanded at Brgy. Villarose, Cabarroguis with 40 adaptors and Brgy. San Dionisio II, Nagtipunan with 35 adaptors in 2019 and 2020 respectively,” Mangoba said.

Mangoba further said that SAEP was also established at Brgy. Mataddi, Nagtipunan in 2021 with a fund amounting to ₱1,500,000.

“Some 50 receptive farmer beneficiaries underwent Training on Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Package of Technology on Organic Farming and they were also provided with 1,000 assorted fruit tree seedlings to planted as permanent crops for slope protection,” the provincial agriculturist added.

Also provided to the farmers were  1,000 highland vegetable seeds for maintenance of soil fertility, 200 sacks vermicast, 50 carpenter’s level (for use to locate contour lines) and two Pump Irrigation System on Open Source.

“SAEP also promotes organic farming thru the establishment of a a vermi-composting facility and provision of vermi housing, vermi worms and one shredder. Mataddi is endowed with raw materials and resources useful for the production of organic fertilizer,” Mangoba said.

She also assured that continuous monitoring will be conducted to the established contour farms to ensure that the project will lead more farmers to the adaptation of the package of technologies introduced for the production of safe and healthy foods for consumers as well as to anticipate natural disasters. (MDCT/TCB/PIA Quirino)