Water management urged as threat of El Niño looms

MANILA, Philippines — Farmers are urged to adopt water-saving technologies and adjust farm practices as a possible El Niño may bring prolonged dry conditions and below-normal rainfall in the coming months.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has historically identified Central Luzon, Western Visayas and parts of Mindanao among areas vulnerable to dry spells affecting rainfed and irrigated rice systems.

According to Kristine Pascual, water management specialist at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), timely farm management practices and water-efficient technologies can help farmers manage limited water supply and reduce risks to rice production.

Among the recommended practices are wet and dry direct seeding, which use less water than conventional transplanting.

Wet direct seeding uses drumseeders, precision seeders, or drone seeders for faster crop establishment, while dry direct seeding minimizes water use during land preparation by sowing seeds under dry soil conditions.

“Planting early allows farmers to take advantage of available water before drought conditions intensify,” Pascual said.

PhilRice also recommended water management practices such as mid-season drainage, alternate wetting and drying, saturated soil culture and water harvesting.

Pascual said that mid-season drainage during the maximum tillering stage improves soil aeration while reducing water consumption.

She added that water should be applied only when needed, particularly during flowering and grain-filling stages.

For areas with limited irrigation, Pascual said aerobic rice technology may also be adopted. The system grows rice under non-flooded conditions similar to upland crops such as corn, with irrigation applied only when soil moisture drops below a set threshold.

On nutrient management, Pascual said split application of nitrogen fertilizer instead of a heavy one-time application to reduce nutrient losses during early crop stress. Foliar fertilizer may also be used when dry soil limits nutrient uptake.

She also encouraged crop diversification, including vegetables and other drought-tolerant crops to help sustain income during dry periods.

“Early preparation is key as the right strategies and timely decisions can help farmers protect their crops and make the most of limited resources,” Pascual said.