Agusan del Sur farmers face losses as El Niño persists

SAN FRANCISCO, AGUSAN DEL SUR—For farmer Alex Moreno, the hardest decision this planting season was not working in the field but deciding not to plant at all.

Moreno, a member of the Sta. Ana Farmers Association in Barangay Sta. Ana, San Francisco, was supposed to plant rice in July and harvest by September.

But the lack of water caused by the continuing El Niño phenomenon forced him to leave portions of his farmland unused.

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Moreno shared how the dry spell disrupted his farming plans.

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“I was supposed to plant last July, but I decided not to continue because of the effects of El Niño. I should have harvested this September,” he said.

Fuel costs

For farmers like Moreno, El Niño means lost planting opportunities, reduced income and uncertainty over the next harvest.

Some farmers were still able to cultivate portions of their fields using water pumps provided by their association.

However, irrigation came at a heavier cost.

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Farmer Senen Maglente said he spent about 40 liters of diesel fuel to pump water and operate a turtle tractor for land preparation.

With rising fuel costs, farmers are spending more just to keep their fields productive.

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Those with farms farther from available water sources have chosen to delay planting until sufficient rainfall returns.

The dry spell is also affecting water supplies in communities.

Elmer Luzon, general manager of the San Francisco Water District, said rainfall monitoring at the Mt. Magdiwata Watershed recorded no rainfall at the Barangay Mate water system, one of the district’s sources.

While thunderstorms brought brief rains in previous days, these were not enough to significantly replenish the watershed.

Residents of Barangay 4 and Dioso Subdivision have raised concerns over limited water deliveries.

Some households said the rationed supply remains insufficient for their daily needs and appealed for fairer distribution.

Residents are also asking authorities to improve coordination and ensure that all affected households receive adequate water.

Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. has ordered a province-wide assessment to determine the extent of damage caused by El Niño and evaluate the possible declaration of a state of calamity.

The Provincial Agriculture Office and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office are consolidating reports from local government units.

During his inspection, Cane observed low river levels, cracked rice fields and stressed crops.

“The prolonged dry conditions are already affecting our farmers. Their harvest will certainly be affected by the drought,” he said.

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Cane said the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) that El Niño may persist until the first quarter of 2027 requires early preparation. INQ