The absence of reliable irrigation makes it difficult for farmers to continue planting during periods of extreme heat.

By Wendyl Geronimo
Davao Today

From drought-stricken farms in Davao and Nueva Ecija to fishing communities in Albay, farmers and fisherfolk are demanding government assistance, protection against land grabbing and genuine agrarian reform as El Niño, mounting production costs and development projects threaten their livelihoods.

Amid worsening agricultural conditions, rising production expenses and continuing disputes over land ownership, farmers and fisherfolk across the Philippines are calling for immediate government intervention, warning that insufficient assistance and threats of displacement are pushing rural communities deeper into poverty.

Their demands come as agricultural communities confront the effects of El Niño, inadequate irrigation systems, expensive fuel and fertilizer, and development projects that farmers organizations say threaten thousands of hectares of farmland.

In the Davao Region, prolonged dry conditions have affected agricultural production, particularly among farmers dependent on rainfall.

Approximately P410 million in agricultural losses were recorded in the Davao region due to El Niño.

Enalyn Basarte, president of the Masupil Women Farmers Organization in Lamanan, Calinan, Davao City, described how insufficient rainfall damaged their corn and vegetable crops.

“Our squash did not flower and the corn was very small and did not form ears,” Basarte told Davao Today in Cebuano.

The experience highlights the difficulties faced by small farmers whose livelihoods depend on increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.

The Davao City Agriculturist’s Office also reported preparations to address the effects of El Niño, including the deployment of water pumps, water tankers and other agricultural equipment. The city government said approximately 700 rainwater catchment units had been established in upland communities.

Despite these measures, farmers’ experiences across the country underscore the continuing need for accessible irrigation, production subsidies and agricultural assistance.

Farmers struggle with inadequate irrigation and government assistance

For Neneng Aquino, a farmer from San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, the struggle to sustain agricultural production has become increasingly difficult because of inadequate irrigation facilities, rising production costs and insufficient government support.

Aquino said farmers in her community depend primarily on rainfall, leaving their crops vulnerable to prolonged dry spells.

“We are happy that we are able to plant there even if it’s just for seasoning. What’s not good is that the assistance we are asking for from the DA, it’s not enough, it’s not being received,” Aquino told Davao Today in an interview.

She explained that the absence of reliable irrigation makes it difficult for farmers to continue planting during periods of extreme heat.

“We only have rain. We won’t be able to survive if it’s too dry,” she added.

She also said that their income is insufficient to sustain their daily needs.

Apart from the threat of drought, she pointed to the increasing cost of fertilizer and pesticides, alongside the limited bargaining power of farmers when selling their produce.

“In fertilizer, they are the ones who decide the price. We will pay them the amount they want,” Aquino said. “But for us, our farmers, the negotiators will decide how much they want to buy.”

The situation leaves farmers struggling to recover their production expenses while earning enough to support their families.

Aquino emphasized the need for agricultural equipment and improved irrigation facilities.

“If possible, we need a tractor and a water pump. We need a water pump so that the water will be continuous,” she said.

However, she said farmers had yet to receive sufficient assistance to prepare for the effects of El Niño.

“We are still requesting [for support]. That’s why we don’t know what their plans are for us,” Aquino added.

Beyond the lack of agricultural support, Aquino also raised concerns about disputes over the land they cultivate.

She recalled an incident in which an unidentified individual prevented farmers from working on their farmland.

“When we plow the land, someone forbade us to plow the land,” she said. “We don’t know who he is, but he forbade us to plow the land.”

Aquino said local authorities had promised to help address the issue, but the farmers were still awaiting concrete action.

“They said that they will help us, but until now, we are still hoping,” she said.

Her account highlights how agricultural insecurity extends beyond climate-related disasters, with access to land remaining an important concern for farming communities.

Rising fuel costs force fisherfolk to reduce fishing operations

Meanwhile, CJ Piodiran, 53, a fisherman from Pio Duran, Albay, said the increasing cost of gasoline has placed additional pressure on small-scale fishing communities.

Although fishing conditions sometimes allow for sufficient catches, Piodiran explained that higher fuel expenses have forced fishermen to limit their trips, particularly when fish are scarce.

“Before, gasoline was cheap, now it’s expensive,” he told Davao Today.

Piodiran explained that fishermen previously operated almost every night, but rising expenses have made regular fishing trips increasingly difficult.

“Before, we only budgeted for 1,500 pesos. Now, it’s doubled, it’s 3,000 pesos,” he said.

When catches are poor, fishermen sometimes choose to remain ashore rather than risk losing money on fuel and other operating expenses.

Piodiran also criticized what he described as the unequal distribution of fuel subsidies among fishing communities.

“Other barangays have been given subsidies. But in our barangay, only a few received subsidies,” he said.

He called for a more equitable distribution of government assistance to farmers and fisherfolk. “They should give everything equally to the fishermen and the farmers,” Piodiran said.

He also urged the Marcos Jr. administration to provide greater financial assistance to small-scale fishermen struggling with rising operational costs.

Apart from fuel subsidies, Piodiran called for alternative livelihood opportunities that would allow fishing families to sustain their income during periods of poor catches.

“If there’s no subsidy, we can receive financial assistance or alternative livelihood programs. That’s what we want,” he added.

He also emphasized the importance of protecting the 15-kilometer municipal waters reserved for small-scale fishing communities against the intrusion of larger commercial fishing vessels.

P50,000 production subsidy, genuine agrarian reform

Amid worsening agricultural conditions and continuing disputes over land, and Super El Niño,  farmers groups have renewed their demands for immediate government assistance and long-term agricultural reforms.

The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women and Anakpawis Party-list called for a P50,000 production subsidy for farmers affected by El Niño and other agricultural disasters.

They also demanded rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation systems, direct compensation for affected farmers, and genuine agrarian reform.

The organizations criticized what they described as insufficient government support for agricultural production, arguing that farmers continue to bear the burden of rising input costs, climate-related disasters and threats to their land.

They also opposed policies and development projects that they said could displace farmers and undermine domestic food production.

They are calling for sustained financial support, reliable irrigation, protection of agricultural and fishing areas, and genuine agrarian reform to safeguard the livelihoods of food producers.

From the drought-affected farms of Davao and Nueva Ecija to the fishing communities and contested agricultural lands of Bicol, farmers and fisherfolk continue to demand compensation, livelihood assistance, secure access to land and protection of their rights. (RVO)