Local farmers still not affected by dry spell, say

By March 18, 2019Business, News

PANGASINAN farmers, compared to farmers in other provinces, are still fortunate since the impact of the dry spell caused by the El Niño phenomenon has not been felt.

This was the observation of Rosendo So, chairman of the Samahan ng Industriyang Agrikultura (SINAG)

So told the KBP Forum that compared to other areas, Pangasinan farmers “are not problematic because they are about to harvest their produce this April” adding that

the San Roque Dam’s water level is at 264 meters above sea level which is still a bit higher compared to last year.

Aside from power generation, the San Roque Dam in San Manuel has an irrigation component that provides year-round irrigation to 21,000 hectares of farmlands in Pangasinan with the completion of the Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project of the National Irrigation Administration.

“So I think rice produce will not have a problem now,” he said.

He said there are also farmers already harvesting their corn produce.

“The farm gate price of corn for dry ones with 14 percent moisture content has reached P14 to P15 per kilo compared to only P12 last year, ” he added.

So said traders’ buying rate for dry palay is P17- P17.50 while the wet palay is at P14.50 to P15 per kilo.

So said farmers in Southern Luzon, from the Bicol area down, are already suffering from the impact of the dry spell. (PhilStar Wire Service)

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