Manila, Philippines — Farmlands, reservoirs and waterways in the country are already drying up due to the intense heat brought by the El Nino phenomenon. Farmers are keeping a closer watch over their fields so whatever available water is used wisely.
Huge clumps of light-brown soil have appeared in the corn fields of Cagayan Valley and Pangasinan, while rice paddies have turned barren in Isabela, Bulacan, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Camarines Sur, Negros, Davao del Sur and other provinces.
Some farmers have stopped planting to cut losses.
Isabela, Cagayan and other provinces, as well as in the corn-producing town of Sto. Tomas in Pangasinan and Cauayan City and Ilagan town in Isabela, have been placed under states of calamity to allow local governments to use public funds to help the distressed farmers.
