Drying paddies alarm farmers

CEBU, Philippines — Rice fields in Barangays Sudlon 1 and Sinsin in Cebu City are drying up due to insufficient irrigation, raising concerns over the impact on farmers’ livelihoods and local food production.

The Cebu City Agriculture Department (CAD) has conducted field inspections in the two upland barangays, led by Rice Program Coordinator Elyn Marie L. Burlaos and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) Mina Funai.

Farmers reported that available water supplies were no longer enough to sustain their rice paddies, with cracks beginning to form in the soil.

“During the inspection, the team observed cracks beginning to form in the rice field, indicating insufficient water,” CAD’s report said. (CEBU NEWS)

Visitacion Bellita, a local farmer, said the limited water supply must also be shared with other crops, further straining rice production.

“The limited water supply has raised concerns among farmers about its possible impact on rice growth and productivity, particularly as adequate water is essential to maintaining healthy crop development,” CAD added.

The department acknowledged the situation and said it would continue monitoring conditions while exploring possible interventions to support affected farmers.

“Through continued consultation and on-site assessment, the City Agriculture Department remains committed to strengthening the resilience of Cebu City’s farming communities and supporting local food production under changing environmental conditions,” the department said.

The situation comes as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirmed that El Niño is active and intensifying.

In its El Niño Advisory No. 2 issued earlier this month, PAGASA said that “There is a 97 percent probability that El Niño will persist until the first half of 2027, with a high chance it will strengthen by the end of 2026.”

PAGASA’s latest climate outlook for September 2026 to February 2027, released on August 26, projects sustained rainfall deficits in Cebu, with rainfall expected to reach only 57.9 percent of normal in November, 66.3 percent in December, 53.1 percent in January and 35.6 percent in February 2027.

“Suppressed convection and precipitation were observed over the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea,” PAGASA noted, confirming that El Niño is already reducing rainfall across the region.

Neighboring provinces in Central Visayas are also expected to experience below-normal rainfall.

Bohol, which recorded above-normal rainfall in July, is forecast to shift to below-normal conditions by November.

Negros Oriental is expected to see rainfall fall to 37.5 percent of normal in January, while Siquijor is projected to receive only 45.1 percent of normal rainfall.

Eastern Visayas provinces, including Leyte, Samar and Biliran, are likewise forecast to receive only 61 to 70 percent of normal rainfall through early 2027.

The problem is compounded by Cebu’s geography. Experts have earlier pointed out that while the island receives an average of 1,685 millimeters of rainfall annually, much of the water drains rapidly into rivers and eventually into the sea because of the island’s steep terrain and limited watershed storage.

Without watershed-scale infrastructure to retain and allow rainwater to infiltrate the ground, upland farms remain vulnerable to drought even after periods of heavy rainfall.

                                      SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Meanwhile, CAD has expanded its support programs to help farmers cope with the effects of changing weather conditions.

In Sitio Luton, Barangay Agsungot, technical personnel provided on-site guidance and conducted crop assessments.

In Cambinocot, the department distributed 1,000 kilos of organic fertilizer to improve soil quality and promote sustainable farming practices.

Farmers in Pung-ol, Sibugay received training in organic practices such as vermicomposting to encourage reduced reliance on synthetic inputs.

CAD also strengthened its Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center with information and communications technology equipment from the Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center VII (ATI-RTC VII), giving farmers better access to modern agricultural knowledge and tools. (CEBU NEWS)