http://balita.ph/2010/04/05/da-to-start-school-on-the-air-for-el-nio-resistant-crops/
April 5, 2010 10:33 pm

ILOILO CITY, April 5 – The Department of Agriculture (DA) here will start its School On the Air (SOA) on Palayaman focusing on El Niño resistant crops by mid-April.
Juvy S. Gaton, DA Chief Information Officer said the SOA on Palayaman will help farmers plant and manage crops that are El Niño resistant and can withstand prolonged dry season.
Gaton said the SOA on Palayaman focusing on El Niño is part of the DA’s mandate to help farmers who are severely affected by the dry spell especially in the countryside.
DA specialists will also discuss ways of planting drought-resistant vegetable, including "cash crops" like squash, sweet potato and even "kangkong".
"Cash crops" are easy to plant and can be sold to the market fast, which is needed by farmers currently affected by the low rice production due to the weather phenomenon.
Gaton said that farmers can listen to the SOA everyday at 4 to 4:30 a.m. through the local radio station. Gaton stressed that it is important for farmers and fisher folks to know what agricultural produce they should cultivate during El Niño. This way, they will not lose so many investments and maintain a livelihood every time the dry spell occurs.
Other topics during the SOA on Palayaman include livestock, fish ponds, high value commercial crops, and farm management during the onslaught of El Niño.
The SOA is a project spearheaded by the Regional Agriculture Fisheries and Information Division (RAFID).
LAP/LPCarnaje