BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki
A senior agriculture officer serving the people of Malu’u and surrounding areas in North Malaita is urging villagers to start planting crops that can be harvested during disaster times.
Patrick Gilo made the statement as people in North Malaita and the entire province face the impacts of El Niño.
He said El Niño will not only affect water sources, but it will also affect root crops, vegetables, and many other essential produce for consumption.
“From the information that we have access to, it is fearful and not really looking good for us in the months to come and in the future. I want to assure us to start planting root crops that are suitable for disaster periods.
“Examples of root crops are swamp taro, cassava, and other root crops that we can harvest during disaster times like this,” he said.
In the meantime, he urges villagers to start preserving the little water they have, as the authorities aren’t sure yet when the El Niño period will end.
Gilo said many people have been affected by water issues like those in Malu’u and that it will be best that they preserve water rather than misusing it.
“I urge you to preserve water now. We don’t know yet when this drought season will end. So please, start to preserve for your family and community,” he said.
The Malaita Provincial Disaster Office is also giving the same assurance to communities in Malaita Province regarding the preservation of water, as the El Niño period has just started.
“We don’t know when it will finish. So, I just urge us all to preserve the little water that we have and use it wisely.”
Gilo said reports reaching them show that many communities in Malaita Province have been facing the impacts of El Niño.
The Provincial Disaster Office has already activated their El Niño watch and launched their response preparedness in the last two weeks.
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