Effects of Extreme Weather Events and Coping Mechanisms of Smallholder Highland Farmers and Traders: Case of Typhoon Ompong (Super Typhoon Mangkhut) in Benguet, Philippines

There is limited published literature on the effects of and coping mechanisms on extreme weather events for vegetable farmers and traders in the mountainous region. This study uses survey and key informant interviews to determine the effects of Typhoon Ompong on farm households, their recovery period, and coping mechanisms. The consequences for smallholder farmers of Typhoon Ompong were damaged standing crops, erosion or run-off on farms and the closure of farm-to-market and national roads connecting farms to wholesale markets. Most farmers recovered their losses within six to eight months, but the mean was 13 months from the typhoon. Most farm households heeded the early warning of the impending storm by securing their farm and house, storing food, and harvesting standing crops or transporting harvested crops to trading areas. After the event, planting again or changing crops and saving and marketing the remaining crop are their only options. Community cooperation was automatic in terms of the cleaning and repair of roads and water sources. The study recommends strengthening forecasts and forecast dissemination of continuous heavy rainfall, provision of accurate and real-time information on road condition, increased local R&D on erosion and road landslide forecasting, ensuring the availability of ready-to-plant seeds and seedlings after extreme weather events, and capitalizing on the traditional “adduyon” for disaster management.