Thousands of Filipino farmers say they’re suffering from the effects of the climate pattern known as El Niño. The dry spell has damaged nearly 30,000 hectares of farmland, and is expected to affect almost all provinces in April - when it’s hottest in the Philippines.

Manila

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Thousands of Filipino farmers are currently facing hardships due to the impacts of El Niño, a climate pattern known for causing prolonged dry spells. The ongoing drought has already led to significant agricultural damage, with nearly 30,000 hectares of farmland affected. The situation is expected to worsen, with predictions indicating that the dry spell will extend across almost all provinces in the Philippines by April, coinciding with the peak of the country's hot season.



Drought warning in Philippines as El Nino to affect by April

In the decades they've been growing rice, these farmers say they've never seen the soil crack in their rice fields, until this season. It hasn't rained for months due to the climate pattern known as El Niño. When the government provided water for irrigation, it was too late because they'd prioritize other areas. Our crops were dead before they received water. The deep wells that they use as an alternative have not been of help either. Ground water supply has also dwindled. It must also be because of El Niño. In this town alone, some 1,500 hectares of farmland are parched, and farmers say they're now deeper in debt. Government weather forecasters say virtually the entire country will be affected by El Niño by April, which is also the hottest month of the year in the Philippines. Farmers have suffered the most, with crop damage amounting to almost $200 million, and counting. A government special task force on El Niño says the dry spell has peaked, but it's going to get worse before it gets better. El Niño is actually weakening, but the weather bureau compared the situation to a flat iron. So once it's plugged, you can feel the constant heat, but once you unplug it, the effects of the heat still remain. People living in the capital, Manila, have been warned their water service may be disrupted as water level in dams across the country are declining. And that means water for irrigation is likely to get even scarcer. Barnabelo, Algecira, San Miguel, Bulacan, the Philippines.

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