Water shortage affects Ilocos farmers’ productivity

Dried up. Hectares of farmland and fish farms in Vintar and Batac are drying up, causing millions of damages for farming and fishing communities in this northern part of Luzon. (Lei Adriano)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Vintar, Ilocos Norte—Ilocano farmers in this town raised the alarm as they may no longer hit production target this year as prolonged drought continue to pester vast tracks of agricultural lands here.

Vintar is the province’s top rice producer.

Over the years, officers and members of Zanjera Taguipuro, an organized rural farmers’ organization here have observed the lack of water supply to sustain the growth of their plants while rivers and underground water sources have already reached critical level.

At Brgy. Salsamagui, withering plants and dried up farm lots are creating discomfort for farmers.

Compared to previous years of the same period this year, Manny Agbayani said they could no longer plant for a third cropping due to lack of water coming from the irrigation canal.

“Awan maaramidmi ta awan metten ti danum nga agturong kadagiti pagtatalonanmi [We are at a loss for we can no longer plant for third cropping due to lack of water flowing to our farmlands], said Mr. Agbayani as he met with his association to discuss how to remedy this problem.

“Ita, awan mabalinmi no di ti aguray ti kaasi ti tudo tapno makapagmulakami manen [For now, we just have to wait for the coming of rain so we can start planting again],” stated Artemio dela Cruz, president of the Bagbag Irrigators Association.

Aside from the dried up farm lots and rivers reaching critical level, farmers have complained about mismanaged government projects such as a multi-million irrigation project with leaks.

Farmers said they are dismayed by this project as it only worsened their problem affecting about 1,500 farmers tilling about 500 hectares of agricultural lands in the adjacent municipalities of Vintar, Bacarra and Pasuquin town.

In a separate interview, Engr. Danilo Gomez of National Irrigation Administration said work is now on-going to repair the leaks. He also clarified that the established irrigation project could not function well as the water flow is only at 200 liters per second instead of an average capacity of 2,500 liters per second.