San Miguel Farmers Struggle With Climate Change

By Kobe Patrick M. Serinas

Rising temperatures and prolonged rains are making rice farming increasingly difficult in San Miguel, Iloilo.

Unpredictable weather patterns and limited farming support are causing crop damage and reducing yields, impacting the income of rice farmers in the municipality.

San Miguel, known as the “Agricultural Basket” of the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC), plays a crucial role in food production for the district.

The town covers 3,197 hectares, with 2,230.50 hectares dedicated to rice farming, producing 8.54 metric tons of rice per hectare across irrigated and rainfed lands.

However, the changing climate is making it harder for farmers to maintain their crops. Elmer Cordero, 26, who has farmed since he was 8, expressed frustration with recurring typhoons and nonstop rainfall, which disrupt planting schedules.

“We can’t plant until next month because the fields need to dry out first,” Cordero explained, looking out at the flooded land caused by Typhoon Ferdie.

Heavy rain after sowing scatters seeds, leading to uneven growth and forcing farmers to replant. Farmers like Cordero are forced to adapt, relying on weather conditions to determine when they can proceed with farming.

“Excessive heat also damages the crops,” Cordero said, recalling a delay in irrigation from the dam earlier this year due to a heatwave.

Despite the challenges, Cordero’s farm managed to harvest before September’s typhoons. He is grateful to have enough food for his family during the wet season. However, he lost 80 sacks of rice last year due to pests and constant rain.

Cordero explained that rice moths, which thrive in wet conditions, lay eggs inside the rice hulls, destroying the grains.

The difficulties are compounded for Cordero, who does not own the farm he works on. Most support from the government goes to landowners registered with the municipality, leaving tenant farmers like Cordero without assistance.

“The landowners get the help, but farmers like us get nothing,” he said.

Jerry Andea, 61, a farm owner, faces similar struggles with both drought and flooding. He noted that water shortages during the April-May heatwave caused delays in irrigation.

“Rice needs water for 60-70 days, but if it rains too much, the crops can be ruined,” Andea said, pointing to a section of his field damaged by recent typhoons.

Despite owning his land, Andea shares Cordero’s frustration with the limited support from the government. He no longer seeks help due to past disappointments with government programs.

“When the government announces programs, it’s exciting, but in the end, nothing comes through,” Andea said.

San Miguel’s local government, led by Mayor Marina Luz S. Gorriceta, has launched initiatives to assist farmers, but the reach of these programs is limited. Many farmers, especially those in remote areas, are left out, and support often goes to registered landowners.

According to the municipal ecological profile, the town has distributed seeds and fertilizers through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), but the effectiveness and reach of these programs remain unclear.

The struggles of San Miguel’s farmers reflect the broader challenges faced by the agricultural sector in the Philippines, particularly in Western Visayas, the country’s third-largest rice-producing region.

Farmers like Cordero and Andea, who are at the frontlines of food production, continue to face harsh conditions with minimal support, even as they work to put food on the tables of Filipino families.

Kobe Patrick M. Serinas is a 4th year Communication and Media Studies student at the University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo.