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COSTA RICA |
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Alert Prevails Due To The “El Niño” Phenomenon in Guanacaste
(InfoWebPress) The Ministry of Agriculture
and Livestock (MAG for their initials in
Spanish) maintains an alert due to the “El
Niño” phenomena in all regions of the
country and elaborated on a prevention and
effect mitigation plan, that contemplates
actions in the short, medium and long term.
In Costa Rica, the main manifestation of “El
Niño” is the unusual increment that the
trade winds have shown, a factor that
inhibits the general formation of rain in
the Central Valley and the Pacific Region,
while in the Pacific Region it increments
the amount of rain.
According to the data supplied by Oscar
Vasquez, the Regional Director of MAG in the
Chorotega Region, the effects of ENOS 2009
over agricultural production in Guanacaste
up till this past September 11th, caused
that from 7,000 hectares of planted rice, a
loss of 1,300 hectares be reported.
“Along with the livestock owners of the
entire región, the use of grass cutting,
improved floor grass, and protein banks is
being promoted with the purpose of improving
the animal feeding and nutrition during the
whole year. These systems promote the
conservation of water supplies, the
development of pasture trees and the
management of waste, amongst other actions.
I think it is necessary that the livestock
owners change the culture of extensive
systems (open pasture areas and less cattle)
to models of intensive production (small
closed area with a greater number of
animals), that ensure the production,
conservation and storage of forages”, stated
Vasquez.
In the same manner, the MAG recommends that
all producers organize to face the effects
of the drought and in this way manage
resources and acquire consumables, materials
and machinery in a joint manner, amongst
others.
Also, in a joint manner between the MAG, the
Livestock Corporation (CORFOGA), the
chambers of livestock owners and other
groups, execution of a training program is
being carried out with the purose of
orienting and promoting the production
technologies and grass conservation, the use
of shrub legumes like the Crathylea and the
feeding supplement to the animals.
As a group, the prívate and public sectors
have constituted a regional commission for
the attention of hydro-meteorological
phenomena and with that they maintain a
Regional Information System on the Phenomena
of El Niño and Niña.
Elsewhere, the MAG recommends establishing
crops in an adequate season, with quality
seeds, and give proper care according to the
crop, specifically concerning adequate
ground preparation, fertilization, weed
control, plague and sicknesses.
An important aspect in living barrier
utilization to avoid wind generated
desiccation of plants, was to use drop based
irrigation to take advantage of the adequate
amount of available water and to be able to
enjoy it for a longer time.
Other suggestions are to utilized water
collectors or make reservoirs utilizing
plastic sheets for the collection of
rainwater, in such a way that is useful for
irrigation in moments when it is needed.
These must be covered to avoid being a focus
of mosquitoes and other parasites.
The production of legumes under these
protected conditions and with drop
irrigation systems with adjustable windows
on the sides of greenhouses to avoid the
increment of internal temperature, is
another option that the producers have.
The application of compost avoids the ground
from drying out and provoke dehydration or
death for these plants. The experts
recommend applying covers to avoid leaving
the ground uncovered.
These and other recommendations are
contained in the Strategy for Mitigation of
the Phenomena of “El Niño” South
Oscillation, elaborated by the Superior
Management of Regional Operations and
Agricultural Extension, for the period
2009-2010, and in the Prevention Plan and
Mitigation of the “El Niño” Phenomena
2009-2010 for the Chorotega Region. |
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