SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The National Irrigation Administration-La Union (NIA-LU) is preparing additional measures to mitigate the potential impact of a “Very Strong El Niño” on agricultural production in the province, with irrigation coverage expected to shrink sharply due to water shortages.
Jay D. Cariño, acting engineering section chief of NIA-LU, said 1,734 hectares of farmland are highly vulnerable to drought, including 974 hectares in the first district and 760 hectares in the second district.
Of the 4,518 hectares covered by the National Irrigation System, only about 1,700 hectares are expected to receive sufficient irrigation.
Under Communal Irrigation Systems, just 912 of approximately 7,600 hectares may remain irrigated.
The projections mean only about 38% of National Irrigation System coverage, and 12% of Communal Irrigation System coverage may retain sufficient irrigation.
Combined, an estimated 2,612 hectares out of 12,118 hectares covered by the two systems may remain irrigated, leaving about 9,506 hectares at risk of inadequate water supply, NIA-LU feared.
To mitigate the impact, NIA-LU is prioritizing irrigation facility repairs, canal dredging, solar-powered irrigation pumps, and shallow tube wells. Farmers are also being encouraged to plant drought-tolerant crops, including corn and other high-value crops, and adopt water-saving farming practices.
Meanwhile, construction of the San Felipe Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in San Juan, La Union, is ongoing. The project is expected to irrigate 600 hectares in San Juan and Bacnotan towns once completed.
Mr. Cariño urged farmers, local government units and partner agencies to coordinate efforts to minimize El Niño’s impact on agricultural production in the province. — Artemio A. Dumlao