Management options for salt-affected rice-based farming systems during the El Niño and La Niña phenomena

Abstract

The general objective was to determine the existing farming systems and formulate and test options to improve farmers' incomes in salt-affected Barangay Sua, Masantol, Pampanga, Philippines near Manila Bay. The following were conducted: (1) exploratory and formal surveys; (2) monitoring, measurement and characterization of water and salinity at the Pampanga River and their consequent effects on existing farming systems; (3) on-farm trial and evaluation of management options, i.e., the researchers' staggered rice transplanting dates and cultivars, and the farmers' rice-fish integration; and (4) interviews and focused-group discussions with farmers. The rice cultivars were PSB Rc 32 (Jaro), PSB Rc 34 (Burdagol) and PSB Rc 48 (Hagonoy). The senior author resided in the study site for a total of 10 months from November 1997 to January 2000, during which time the El Niño and La Niña phenomena occurred. Flooding and salinity were the two main constraints identified by the farmers that resulted in associated interrelated problems of low crop intensity, low productivity and yield, high risk of failure, seasonal availability of employment and high cost of production. Management options to overcome the constraints were: (1) rice transplanted early (in November) was an effective way of avoiding the adverse effects of salinity, resulting in better crop growth and yield. Rice transplanted late (December or January) did not escape high salinity and flooding, resulting in low yield. Saline water intrusion at the Pampanga River usually occurs in January or February; in 1997, this happened as early as November, caused by El Niño. PSB Rc 48 was found to be the best among the three cultivars as shown by its yield and lower mortality during flooding; (2) raising adaptable aquatic species of animals; and (3) utilization of locally available biological resources. During the dry season or an El Niño, transplanting of rice should be made in September or October. During the wet season or a La Niña, transplanting should be made in October or November. Transplanting by all farmers should be made two weeks (at the latest) after the recession of the deepest flood-water. This would allow the rice crop to escape saline water intrusion in November/December during an El Niño period (as in 1997) and January/February during La Niña (as in 1999). © 2004 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Source or Periodical Title

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture

ISSN

10440046

Page

19-37

Document Type

Article

Subject

El Niño phenomenon, La Niña phenomenon, Management options, On-farm trials, Rice-fish integration, Saline intrusion, Salt-affected areas

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