April 24, 2026
LUCENA, QUEZON – Looming dry spells and drought in several parts of the country due to the intensifying El Niño phenomenon will pose tougher challenges for farmers struggling to sustain their livelihoods, a national peasant group said Thursday.
“El Niño does not only mean hotter days. For farmers, it means dry fields, weak crops, and lost income. It means planting without certainty of harvest and feeding a family with very little—or not planting and not eating at all,” said Danny Carranza, secretary general of Kilusan Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan (Katarungan), in a phone interview.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) earlier issued an El Niño alert, warning that a higher likelihood of below-normal rainfall could trigger droughts and prolonged dry spells in some areas of the country.
READ: Pagasa issues El Niño Alert; drought in PH now likely
Carranza said the warning should prompt urgent action beyond addressing rising temperatures.
“The El Niño alert should not only warn us of coming heat. It should push us to act on the deeper crisis that has long been ignored,” he said.
In a follow-up statement, Carranza noted that farmers are no strangers to climate disruptions, but these are becoming more severe and frequent.
READ: Sugar producers urge emergency cloud seeding as El Niño threatens crops
“This is part of a worsening pattern that hits the poorest the hardest. This is not just a climate issue but a full-blown crisis coming from all sides,” he said.
Carranza cited compounding problems confronting farmers, including high fuel costs, declining water supply, rising food prices, and lack of land ownership.
“There is a fuel crisis. Diesel and oil prices remain high, and every increase pushes farming closer to loss,” he said.
He also pointed to a worsening water shortage. “Irrigation systems are drying up, wells are receding, and farmers are left waiting for rain that may not come.”
Lower farm output, he added, could drive up food prices and worsen hunger.
“When production drops, food prices rise. Food becomes more expensive, portions shrink, and more families struggle to eat,” Carranza said.
He also highlighted longstanding land issues. “Many farmers still do not own the land they till. In times of disaster, they bear all the risks but have the least protection,” he said.
Katarungan urged the government to provide immediate and adequate support, including fuel subsidies and production assistance, while strengthening irrigation systems and shifting them toward renewable energy.
The group also called for promoting food sovereignty and agroecology, enforcing stronger safeguards on food prices and supply, advancing agrarian reform, and investing in climate-resilient agriculture.
“Farmers cannot face El Niño and these crises alone. Ignoring them will only deepen the crisis for everyone,” Carranza said./coa