A week after planting, newly sown rice seedlings in Barangay Lanas, Mangaldan, Pangasinan were submerged by floods, leaving farmers with no choice but to start over.
Heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm #CrisingPH and the southwest monsoon, or habagat, have soaked farmlands beyond recovery.
“Talagang nalubog sa baha, nalubog na sa ulan. Kung may maibibigay na binhi, makapagtanim muli [kami]," Tito Abrazaldo, a farmer, said.
The continuous downpour also caused irrigation canals to overflow, sending excess water directly into rice paddies. While some older rice crops may survive, the younger seedlings, especially those just planted, have little chance, farmers said.
Adding to the problem is the sudden rise in golden apple snails, or kuhol; pests that thrive in standing water and feed on young rice plants.
“Naubos na ng kuhol. Mamamatay na ’yan kung hindi bababa ang tubig,” Abrazaldo said, referring to the seedlings still underwater.
The Municipal Agriculture Office is monitoring affected areas and says older rice crops, at least two to three weeks old, stand a better chance of recovery if floodwaters subside soon.
Interventions are also being made to manage excess irrigation water.
“Hindi maiwasan, siyempre doon pupunta ang tubig ulan kaya marami ang tubig sa irigasyon,” Manuel Aquino, Rice Coordinator of the Mangaldan Municipal Agriculture Office, said.
Local officials are urging farmers to insure their crops through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to mitigate future losses.
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