“THE challenges of climate change is at every sphere of our daily life now,” Mayor Stephany Uy- Tan of Catbalogan City told a 200 delegates of the Regional Climate Forum where she was the guest speaker.
Known to be a staunch climate change resiliency advocate, Mayor Step as she is fondly called, said that just as important with the issues of transportation and energy, the agriculture sector should also be given proper attention in various forums.
It is in this premise that recently, the local government unit of Catbalogan City with the humble representation of Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan inked a memorandum of understanding with Rice Watch Action Network, a partner non-government organization who helped the city in setting up a climate resilient field school or CRFS.
After months of operations, the field school produced 32 farmer graduates who were taught various skills and techniques on how to become climate change resilient farmers of the city. The 1st batch of farmers learned ways of sustainable farming that is appropriate to their areas and adaptable to climate change. “We hope to produce more farmer graduates of the field school,” said Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan.
Targeting a climate change resilient farmers and farmlands, the Mayor is hopeful that these farmers will learn a lot in protecting their livelihood which is a very big challenge under the issue of climate change.
The field school teaches the following weather, climate and cropping calendar adjustments; water cost saving farming measures; organic based soil fertility measures, to lessen the use of fossil based fertilizers as climate change mitigation and adaptation; the importance of biodiversity in the context of climate change including seed varietal adaptability trials and climate related risk management through farm diversification.
Moreover, the farmers are also taught the importance and significance of organized communities and united actions to address the negative impacts of climate change.
With all of these, the Mayor expressed her appreciation to the Rice Watch Action Network in the Philippines for the partnership. She hope to see more farmers and their communities coming together with actions and commitments in ensuring that everybody take its role and responsibilities as we brace the challenges of climate change resiliency and adaptation.
Credit: Myra Tabor from Catbalogan City, the Philippines.
