In ensuring food security amid climate change, the country’s agriculture and forestry sector is urged to focus more on adaptation rather than mitigation measures.
“The priority strategy for development will focus on adaptation since this is where most government funds should invest,” said PCARRD Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development (R&D) Danilo C. Cardenas.
Speaking during the recent Mindanao summit on R&D agenda for climate change held in Davao City, Cardenas said the Council’s initiatives for the next two years will focus on adaptation considering the limited budget in addressing climate change.
Cardenas said mitigation measures are intended to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases although the Philippines is not a major contributor on greenhouse gas emissions.
“The focus should be on adaptation strategies to come up with adjustment measures (that can be) adopted at the farm level in response to actual or expected climate variability,” he said.
Cardenas said the life support system such as agriculture, forestry and natural resources (AFNR) are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
“There is an urgent need to take decisive action to adapt to the consequences of climate change and to mitigate its potential threats,” he added.
Adapting to climate change
In a policy consultation with various scientists and researchers across the country, specific adaptation strategies for AFNR had been identified.
For the crop sector, there is a need to develop resilient crop varieties that are either drought or flood tolerant. There is also a need to adjust the cropping calendar and promote the use of organic fertilizer. Water harvesting technologies will be also enhanced including management of priority watersheds.
For the livestock sector, on the other hand, there is the need for heat and disease-tolerant livestock and poultry breeds including new vaccines against diseases. As well, there is a need for highly digestible feeds and nutritional interventions to minimize enteric gas emission. Along with management of farm waste, conservation of indigenous animal genetic resources will be considered.
Although planting trees had been identified as a major measure in combating climate change, the forestry sector is urged to look into the carbon value sequestration of Philippine trees and develop models of community-based carbon sequestering mechanisms.
Cardenas said there is a need to coordinate and harmonize various agencies’ plans and programs on climate change. Stressing that policies should be science-based, researchers present during the summit underscored the need to examine the budget allocation to strengthen R&D activities.
Meanwhile, Dr. Lourdes Generalao, director of Davao-based Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMARRDEC), said that Mindanao, being the country’s food basket, must be secured in terms of protecting its natural resources from the impact of climate change.
“(The) Mindanao science community is now identifying priority areas for science-based interventions. We need to address short and long term science solutions to cushion negative effects of climate change to the food production in the island-region,” she said.