Cagayan Valley farms reel from dry spell
SAN PABLO, ISABELA—Farmers across Cagayan Valley are grappling with the early onset of the dry season, as prolonged lack of rainfall since last month threatens corn and rice harvests.
Manuel Dayag, 50, a farmer from Cabagan town, said his cornfields are already drying up despite not yet reaching harvest.
“The land is parched. Look at the corn—it’s going to be ruined. There’s no rain at all. What used to grow here is gone; there’s nothing to harvest. If anything remains, it’s only a small amount,” he said, explaining that his crops are spoiling and yields are minimal.
Farmers also lamented the limited government support.
“There’s no support; only those close to the boss get chosen,” said Marlon Dayag, 49, referring to the preferential assistance only reaching those close to authorities.
Marilyn Pimentel, 51, of San Pablo, added: “It’s really hard. There’s almost nothing harvestable in our corn crops—maybe one hectare (ha) yields just two sacks.”
She also reported losses in her small backyard poultry, with chickens falling ill and nearly wiped out.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Cagayan Valley has reported damage to over a thousand hectares of rice fields due to the dry spell, which occurs if rainfall is scarce for three months.
Corn is also being affected, with nearly half of the region’s 48,000-ha corn area beginning to dry out.
“The drought is expected to impact corn, rice and high-value crops in Region 2, but we are implementing measures to mitigate its effects,” said DA Regional Director Rose Mary Aquino in an interview.
Current data showed 1,280 ha of rice have been newly planted, 58,319 ha are in the vegetative stage, 184,007 ha are in the reproductive stage and 65,288 ha are maturing—excluding corn and high-value crops.
Aid
To assist farmers, the DA will distribute 1,567 water pumps and deploy solar-powered irrigation facilities.
Officials are also coordinating with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management for potential cloud seeding operations.
Monitoring for a possible declaration of a state of calamity in affected areas is ongoing.
In Isabela province alone, corn farmers are projected to lose P2 billion this cropping season due to the ongoing drought, provincial agriculturist Sergio Galamgam reported.
Current assessments indicate that 40.79 percent of total corn crops have been damaged since Feb. 28, with 28,979 ha in the vegetative stage potentially losing up to 50 percent of their yield, and 43,723 ha in the reproductive stage at risk of up to 80 percent losses.
Overall, an estimated 49,268 ha of corn in the province could be severely affected.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has recommended that the Isabela provincial board issue a resolution to address the potential effects of severe drought.
PDRRMO chief Constante Foronda, Jr. urged that the quick response fund, which constitutes 30 percent of the local disaster risk reduction and management fund, be used to provide immediate assistance to farmers.
Echague chief meteorologist Ramil Tuppil noted that while occasional short-term rains are expected, precipitation remains below normal, accelerating soil drying and increasing temperatures.
******
Get real-time news updates: inqnews.net/inqviber
