Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced plans on Wednesday to diversify crops in response to the significant irrigation damage in Nueva Ecija. This initiative aims to mitigate the potential impact on local agriculture, especially for rice farmers who face disruptions due to illegal quarrying activities affecting the Upper Pampanga River Irrigation System (UPRIS).
According to Philippines News Agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. revealed that the DA is preparing to transition at least 37,000 hectares of rice farmland to mung bean cultivation. The shift comes as the damaged irrigation system threatens to reduce palay (unhusked rice) output by 120,000 metric tons early next year, posing a substantial risk to the income of thousands of rice farmers.
"The way to manage this situation is to adopt a crop diversification strategy," stated Tiu Laurel. Both the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the DA will initiate mung bean production to offer additional income for affected farmers, decrease mung bean imports, and boost the local supply of nutrient-rich food. Mung beans, a staple in various food products, require a shorter growing period of about 60 days, providing farmers an opportunity to regain income during the irrigation repairs.
Currently, the Philippines imports nearly 50,000 metric tons of mung beans annually. In Nueva Ecija, farmers can potentially earn approximately PHP22,600 per hectare at the current market price of PHP70 per kilo, with average yields of 0.7 metric tons per hectare. There are also higher-yield varieties available for cultivation.
The DA plans to manage mung bean planting cycles and regulate imports to maintain fair farmgate prices. "If we know what is lacking and what is in surplus, then we can plan better for the needs of our country. Since 37,000 hectares in UPRIS are down, planting mung beans makes sense," Tiu Laurel emphasized.
Additionally, the DA and NIA intend to expand the mung bean industry by incorporating an extra 21,000 hectares along NIA's irrigation systems, further securing the livelihoods of farmers in the region.
