Kalinga Farmers Advised to Delay Palay Planting Amid El Niño

TABUK CITY, Philippines — Farmers in Kalinga who depend on the Upper Chico River Irrigation System or UCRIS have been advised to suspend the planting of palay as the water level in the river continues to drop, according to the provincial office of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). The advisory covers farmers in downstream and tail-end service areas, particularly in the villages of Masablang and Nambaran in Tabuk, and Cawagayan and Mapaco in Pinukpuk, Kalinga as well as Quezon and Mallig in Isabela. The Chico River is the primary source of water of the UCRIS. The extended dry season due to El Niño has caused water in Chico River to decline, threatening irrigation supply for palay farms. NIA warned that planting palay under the current condition could result in crop failure and heavy financial losses. The agency encouraged farmers to shift temporarily to drought-resistant and less water-intensive crops such as vegetables, corn, mung beans and sweet potatoes to sustain food production and household income. Farmers served by a solar pump irrigation system have been advised to maximize the use of their facilities and tap alternative sources of water including wells and streams. The NIA said it is working with local government units, irrigators’ associations and other stakeholders to ensure equitable distribution of water for irrigation. The agency urged the public to conserve water.