Mandaue City reports no heat-related crop damage

Mandaue City, Cebu, has reported no heat-related crop damage, according to the local Agriculture Office. City Agriculturist Sharon Mangadlao stated that this year's weather is much better than last year's El Niño, which harmed many crops. She mentioned that local farmers are managing well despite the high temperatures. The rains at night are helping to ease the situation. The Mandaue City Agriculture Office is actively supporting local gardeners. They provide various vegetable seeds and seedlings, including drought-resistant types that need less water. These include crops like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, eggplant, and bitter gourd, which can be harvested quickly. Most gardens in Mandaue are small and are mainly for personal use or local sales. There are around 1,000 registered gardeners in the city. However, the number can change due to job opportunities, such as construction work, which some gardeners take on. Once those projects are done, many return to gardening. Mangadlao noted that people have many employment options in Mandaue, unlike in more rural areas where farming is the sole livelihood.