Farmers in some PHL provinces reel from effects of El Niño

Farmers and residents in some provinces throughout the country are already feeling the effects of the El Niño phenomenon that has scorched farmlands, wilted growing crops, and dried up rivers.

An El Niño report roundup on Unang Balita on Thursday morning indicated that farmers in some provinces are already reeling from the effects of the dry spell.

In Cauayan, Isabela in Luzon, the dry spell has already destroyed over P120 million worth of crops.

This is happening, the report said, amid cloud-seeding operations.

Farmers appeal for added government assistance aside from cloud-seeding efforts, the report said.

Meanwhile in Mindanao, the dry spell has already dried up over 600 hectares of farmlands in Upi town in Maguindanao province.

In Camarines Sur in southern Luzon, residents in the town of Bula have expressed fears the Bula River's water would soon dry up if the dry spell continues.

They said that normally the river's water overflows but at present the water level has dropped down knee level.

Far north in Luzon, fish farmers in Peñarubbia in Abra province have been forced to harvest their farmed fish early due to high temperatures in their fishponds

In Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, farm animals and livestock  have been affected by high temperatures, exposing the animals to high risk of heatstroke. —LBG, GMA News