DA-13 installs automated weather station in Tubajon
In a bid to pursue climate-resilient agriculture, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga through the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives in Agriculture (AMIA) recently awarded the automated weather station (AWS) to the municipality of Tubajon in the Province of Dinagat Islands.
Installed in Sitio Bagong Silang, Brgy. Sta.Cruz, the AWS provides real-time, accurate, and site-specific data in weather conditions which are valuable in crop and irrigation management.
Richard Tabudlong, DA-AMIA alternate project leader said, “The data gathered can help the farmers in their decision-making processes as it will provide full range of advice regarding climate, and its impact on crops, so that appropriate services and measures will be implemented to reduce and manage climate risks.”
Tabudlong further encouraged the farmers to embrace and utilize the intervention.
"This is the start of making Tubajon a climate-resilient town in our ongoing battle against climate change and unprecedented weather events. So, I hope that this project will not go to nothing. Instead, let us maximize this and adopt the principles of climate-smart agriculture," he added.
Tubajon Mayor Simplicia Pedrablanca expressed her gratitude to the DA and hoped to boost agricultural production where the necessary consumption of the total 9,000 population will be achieved in the town.
"Currently, our agricultural produce will only feed more than 4,000 of our population. But with this newly installed weather station, I believe, gradually, we will become a food self-sufficient municipality and help our farmer-families improve their livelihood, contributing to reduction of poverty in the locality," the mayor said.
The ceremonial activity was also graced by municipal agriculturist Jovelyn Lumpay, SB chairperson on Agriculture Samson Tidalgo, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) chief Benjamin Vargas, Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC) chairperson Rey Capua, and other local officials. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)