Drought stress hits Bukidnon rice production as El Niño persists

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — The El Niño weather phenomenon continues to weigh on rice production in this key agricultural district, with hundreds of hectares of farmland experiencing reduced rainfall and water availability.

The strain on water supplies has prompted the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to activate managed irrigation schedules to maintain crop productivity across the region's extensive farming areas. Valencia City remains one of Mindanao's significant agricultural centers, with a total cultivated area exceeding 10,000 hectares.

The city's agricultural footprint comprises approximately 9,862 hectares of irrigated land and 990 hectares of rainfed farmland. The irrigation infrastructure has become increasingly critical as farmers face prolonged dry conditions that threaten yields during the growing season.

NIA officials have been coordinating with local agricultural stakeholders to optimize water distribution and mitigate crop losses. The scheduled delivery system aims to ensure adequate moisture reaches rice paddies during this challenging weather period, supporting both farmer livelihoods and national food security objectives.