Lack of irrigation ruins P35-M Central Luzon crops

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — It’s still the "normal dry season," but lack of irrigation has damaged 5,861 hectares of palay in recent months in Central Luzon, the country’s traditional rice granary.

The Department of Agriculture’s regional office said in a report that the lack of irrigation has severely affected the provinces of Tarlac, Zambales and Nueva Ecija since the dry season started last October. Total losses were placed at P35 million.

"We are still in the normal dry season. El Niño is still not being felt but we expect to experience it by the last quarter of this year," an agricultural officer said.

Of the 4,341 hectares of damaged palay in Nueva Ecija, the regional DA office said 1,818 hectares have no chances of recovery.

The same situation exists for 136 hectares of the 1,084 hectares of damaged palay in Tarlac, and 157 of 436 hectares affected in Zambales.

The DA reported that lack of irrigation also damaged 159 hectares of vegetable farms and 72 hectares of corn plantations.

Department officials expect the worse when El Niño sets in this coming October. — Ding Cervantes