NIA tells farmers to use water wisely
National Irrigation Authority (NIA) has called on farmers to use water wisely with the onset of the El Niño phenomenon which started to dry up most of the rivers where irrigation waters come from.
In an advisory sent to The News Today, NIA Regional Office warned that water supply for irrigation started to reduce last month (November) and is expected to last until March or April next year due to the El Niño.
It said most of the rivers, which are the sources of irrigation waters, have started to dry up so the cooperation of the farmers is needed in order to counter the effects of the drought.
It can be noted that many farmlands in Western Visayas depend on water coming from the government’s irrigation systems.
To note, National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Deputy Director General Margarita Songco, had earlier reported that, based on scientific studies, a long dry spell would most likely hit the country early next year. She said that data gathered in the past several months showed that the weather phenomenon, characterized by extreme temperature rise with little rainfall, has begun affecting various areas of the country.
She also said that the Visayas and Mindanao regions have been experiencing below-normal rainfall conditions despite the three typhoons hitting Luzon in the past month.
Meanwhile, Julito Pamiroyan, Senior Irrigation Development Officer said that they have already outlined activities in anticipation of the dry phenomenon. Among which are the regular maintenance of irrigation facilities especially canals to maintain continuous flow of irrigation water to farmlands and water scheduling for the 3rd cropping season.
“Rice planting for the 3rd cropping is also discouraged especially in downstream areas to avoid damage in crops. Instead farmers are advised to plant other crops like monggo, peanuts and other nitrogen fixing plants not only for food production but also as means to bring back the fertility of the soil,” said Pamiroyan.
Pamiroyan appealed to farmers to be cooperative and follow the water distribution schedule (on rotational scheme) especially those in the upstream to allow the irrigation water to flow downstream so that farmers in outlying areas can avail of it. They are also urged to participate in the maintenance of irrigation canals and repair if necessary. (with reports from PIA)
