El Niño hampers rice planting and water supply across Agusan del Sur
The ongoing El Niño has dried out more than 35,000 hectares of rice fields in Agusan del Sur, leaving roughly 21,600 farmers unable to start the July sowing season.
Provincial agriculturist Armando Valiente reported that the prolonged El Niño drought is curtailing water availability throughout Agusan del Sur. Over 35,000 hectares of rice land are now too dry for planting, forcing about 21,600 farmers to delay or abandon their July crops. The shortage of irrigation water threatens both yields and local food security as the season progresses.
Why it matters
The drought threatens rice yields and food security for thousands of families in Agusan del Sur.
In this story
El Niñorice plantingdroughtwater supplyfarmersagriculturistcrop delayfood security
