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The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), country`s lead agency in rice research and development, continues its efforts to roll-out information materials to help the farmers cope with the onslaught of El Niño.

Said communication resources are available for download from the institute’s website.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recently reported in its advisory that recent analyses from global climate models suggest that the on-going El Niño condition is likely to continue until mid-2015 with chances of strengthening toward the end of the year.

Pagasa identified the provinces affected by dry spell: Luzon (Albay, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Masbate, Nueva Ecija, Sorsogon), Visayas (Biliran, Eastern Samar, Negros Oriental, Samar, Southern Leyte), and Mindanao (Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Leyte, Maguindanao, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Sarangani, Siquijor, South Cotabato, Surigao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur).

The materials are mostly in Filipino and produced in forms that Filipino readers can easily understand. In preparation for the wet season, PhilRice will also release an information kit to properly assist farmers.

Farmers can also contact the PhilRice Text Center (0920-911-1398) should they want to know more about El Niño and the technologies that can reduce the losses brought about by the phenomenon.