Prolonged dry spell exacts heavy toll on Visayas farms

DRYING FIELD In this photo taken on Sept. 5, cracked rice fields in Sagbayan, Bohol, show the effects of intense heat and a prolonged dry spell gripping the province. Some springs and creeks have also dried up, raising concerns among farmers over their crops and water supply. —Leo Udtohan TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — For farmer Jess Milagrosa, there is little left to do but watch his rice plants wither under Bohol’s relentless heat. Milagrosa’s 1,000-square-meter rice field in Carmen town has been badly damaged by the prolonged dry spell, leaving him unable to save much of his crop. “I could no longer save it,” he said, pointing to the rice plants that had turned dry. He said some of the remaining crops could still recover if rain came soon, but the skies have remained dry. Article continues after this advertisement Milagrosa is among farmers in Bohol who are worried about losing their crops as the province continues to experience intense heat and insufficient rainfall. READ: In Asia, PH ‘most vulnerable’ to severe El Niño – ANZ study Rice fields in the villages of Buenavista and Katipunan in Carmen have been particularly affected. Farmers said even the heavy rain on Aug. 22 was not enough to replenish the water-starved fields and cracked soil. Severely affected rice fields have also been observed in Balilihan, Catigbian, Sagbayan, Batuan, Bilar and Candijay. Irrigation Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Larry Pamugas warned that prolonged dry conditions could reduce agricultural production, cut farmers’ income and pose a risk to Bohol’s food security. A dry spell refers to three consecutive months of below-normal rainfall. Article continues after this advertisement Data from Bohol’s Office of the Provincial Agriculturist showed that only 12,798 hectares, or 23.76 percent, of the province’s 53,884.72-ha rice area had been planted as of July. The National Irrigation Administration has likewise reported declining water levels in irrigation dams, with water levels remaining low in Capayas, Talibon, Benliw and Ilaya. Article continues after this advertisement In Samar, prolonged dry conditions are also threatening rice production, with farmers forced to spend more on irrigation while some rain-fed fields remain parched and unproductive. The dry spell has affected more than 200 farmers in Calbiga, Samar, with mostly rice fields suffering an estimated P10 million in losses, according to the Municipal Agriculture Office. Paolo Cabueñas, the municipal agriculture officer, said 38 of the town’s 41 barangays have reported affected rice fields. “As of this time, this dry spell has affected 38 of our barangays, involving 215 farmers and covering 150 hectares, with estimated losses of about P10 million,” Cabueñas said in a phone interview. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Most of the affected rice fields are nonirrigated, making them dependent on rainfall, which has been scarce in Calbiga for months, he said. /cb