Dry spell ruins P63 M worth of crops in Nueva Vizcaya

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The dry spell has left agricultural losses estimated at more than P63 million in this landlocked province, considered to be the region’s vegetable capital.

In its latest assessment report, the local agriculture office said the extent of damage could reach an alarming level if the dry spell continues until the end of the month.

Nueva Vizcaya, like its neighboring province of Benguet, is a known producer of vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, potato and beans. It supplies a sizable volume of its agriculture produce to Metro Manila.

At present, Felipe Borja, assistant provincial agriculture officer, said the dry spell has damaged more than 2,000 hectares of agricultural lands planted to palay, corn, vegetables and fruits.

“If no rains will fall in the next 15 days, then the farmlands affected by the dry spell could increase to more than 3,500 hectares,” Borja said.

The Department of Agriculture has been conducting cloud seeding operations in the region’s four provinces – Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Cagayan and Quirino – for a week now to cushion the impact of the dry spell, which government weather officials fear could last beyond August.

However, the National Irrigation Administration here said the cloud seeding failed to improve the water level at the Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela.

According to latest reports, the dam’s water level was just five meters above the critical mark. Should there be no rainfall within the week, it could fall further, possibly forcing irrigation officials to reduce the supply of water to farmlands.

The Magat Dam, once Asia’s biggest, provides irrigation to more than 100,000 hectares of farmlands in Cagayan Valley, largely to Isabela, the country’s top rice and corn producer.

The more-than-two-decade-old Magat Dam also provides 500 megawatts of power to the Luzon grid.

Earlier this week, Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca declared a state of calamity after agricultural losses due to the dry spell have reached close to P300 million.

The province of La Union in the Ilocos region was the first to declare a state of calamity due to the dry spell.

Other provinces in Northern Luzon such as Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Quirino, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur are reportedly mulling a similar declaration.

President Arroyo earlier ordered the immediate release of more than P3.5 billion for the repair of irrigation facilities, cloud seeding operations, financial assistance to farmers, provision of agricultural inputs and other related programs and activities to soften the impact of the dry spell.

Malacañang is also planning to ask Congress to provide the President with special powers to combat the adverse effects of the extended dry spell on the economy.