News Details

DA Expands Climate Awareness Training to Equip Cordillera Farmers for Weather-Smart Farming

NPO

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November 22, 2025

BAGUIO CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is intensifying efforts to help Cordillera farmers better understand and respond to the growing impacts of climate change, aiming to strengthen their decision-making on planting, crop selection, harvesting, and farm operations.

Crisante Rosario, focal person for the DA-Cordillera Climate Change Adaptation Program, said the enhanced initiative will empower farmers to adapt more effectively to changing weather patterns. This includes learning when to plant, what crops are suitable for specific conditions, and when early harvesting may be necessary to prevent losses.

During a climate change forum held Thursday, farmer leaders and municipal agriculturists from across the region took part in seminars, orientations, and knowledge-sharing sessions designed to deepen their understanding of climate-related risks. Rosario said the program aims to help farmers “be adept in the topic and motivate them on how they operate their farms.”

He recalled that during the strong 2023–2024 El Niño episode, the Cordillera region suffered massive drought affecting corn, rice, and vegetable farms — resulting in an estimated PHP 1.2 billion in agricultural losses due to stunted crops.

“We can see and feel the effects of climate change, whether it’s water shortage or oversupply that destroys crops,” Rosario emphasized.

To support climate-smart decision-making, the DA is advocating the use of tools such as climate vulnerability assessments and mapping systems. These tools guide planners and farmers in identifying which areas are suitable for specific crops and where programs and interventions should be prioritized.

One key innovation introduced is the Agroclimatic Advisory Portal, linked directly to PAGASA. Installed on mobile phones, the app provides:

• Seasonal weather forecasts

• Special advisories

• Crop-specific recommendations

• Push notifications aligned with PAGASA alerts

Rosario said the tool helps farmers decide, for example, whether to harvest mature crops ahead of an incoming weather disturbance.

The DA is also promoting crop programming, especially during extreme weather events, since some crops can only thrive during specific months or years.

PAGASA-Baguio weather specialist Engineer Larry Esperanza reinforced this message, noting that climate change is a global phenomenon marked by severe water shortages or excessive rainfall depending on the season.

He said understanding these shifts enables farmers to track typhoon intensity, monitor changing cropping patterns, and adjust their schedules accordingly.

Esperanza also highlighted climate anomalies such as frost, which previously occurred in November or December but now appears as late as January to March — affecting highland crops.

By equipping farmers with climate knowledge and technological tools, the DA hopes to improve harvest outcomes, strengthen resilience, and boost overall food production in the Cordillera.

NPO News Team | PNA–PR