Bukidnon showcases resilient harvests amid El Niño

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — Bukidnon’s agricultural hub remains resilient even in the shadow of a developing Super El Niño. Last Tuesday, tables overflowed with freshly harvested fruits, crisp vegetables, root crops, and other local delicacies at the city government multi-purpose covered court.

The vibrant display launched Valencia City’s 16th Farmers’ Month Celebration, bringing together hundreds of farmers, fisherfolk, Irrigators Associations, Rural Improvement Club (RIC) members, and 4-H Club youth.Despite mounting climate threats, the kick-off showcased an abundant harvest, a testament to the hard work of those who continue to safeguard the region’s food supply.

READ: PH bracing for P20-B losses from El Niño  The celebration unfolds against serious climate headwinds.Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) advisories warn of unusually high temperatures and a moderate-to-strong El Niño across Mindanao that could intensify toward late 2026 and stretch into mid-2027.The heat has already taken a toll on the city’s vast agricultural footprint, affecting 9,862 hectares of irrigated rice lands, 990 hectares of rainfed farms, and 19 hectares of upland fields in Barangay Banlag.Adonis Torres, monitoring officer for the City Agriculture Office, noted that below-normal rainfall has severely impacted downstream and rainfed fields, prompting the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to implement scheduled water deliveries and strict conservation measures.But the event at the covered court celebrated farm productivity.

The month-long event honors the city’s modern-day heroes, celebrating their innovation and dedication as the local government ramps up monitoring and field support to help farmers weather the dry spell ahead./coa