El Niño Hits Agusan del Sur Farmers, Dimming Harvest Prospects

Farmers in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, Philippines, are grappling with severe water shortages caused by the prolonged El Niño phenomenon. Despite the planting season, drought conditions have made it difficult to supply water to rice fields, forcing many farmers to make difficult decisions. Alex Moreno, a farmer from Barangay Sta. Ana in San Francisco, is among those who have decided to forgo planting this season. While the usual planting season begins in July for harvest, his rice fields have dried up, leaving no water to cultivate crops. Moreno stated that he did not even prepare his seeds, considering the risk of them withering, a decision that means losing his source of income as a small-scale farmer. The El Niño phenomenon has been reducing rainfall across the Philippines, leading to droughts. Regions heavily reliant on agriculture are facing increasingly severe impacts on food production, prompting calls for government support. Agusan del Sur province is known as a major producer of staple crops like rice and corn. However, the damage from the current El Niño could affect the region's food supply. Farmers are anxiously awaiting weather recovery and government assistance. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo