Weather forces Pangasinan folk to plant monggo, rice in dry fish ponds

 

The hot weather in past months has affected many fish farms in 15 barangays in Bayambang, Pangasinan.

 

Fish farmers in the affected areas said the heat has been drying up their fish pens since April, GMA Dagupan's Michael Sison reported Thursday.

 

"Tuyo pa lang kasi wala pang tag-ulan eh. Ito dalawa, apektado na. Mababaw yung isa eh," said fish farmer Marina Lavarias.

 

In one affected area, tilapia from three fish pens were moved to one fish pen to save water.

 

Fish farmers also said the higher prices of fuel are an added burden in securing water for their fish pens.

 

Bacnono, Maigpa, Inanlorenza, Matangkawa, Idung, Sanlibo, and Macayocayo are among the areas affected.

 

For its part, the Municipal Agriculture Office said it already advised the fish farmers not to stock on fish before the dry season.

 

"[A]ware na yung mga fish farmers na pag itong El Niño, huwag mag-stock," said aquaculture technician Federico Alcantara.

 

For now, the affected fish farmers have resorted to planting monggo in their fish ponds as an alternative source of livelihood. Other farmers have tried to plant rice.

 

The municipal agriculture office said it will extend help to the fish farmers once the rainy season begins.

 

"Fingerlings, bibili ang local government unit, tapos ibibigay sa mga fish farmer," Alcantara said. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News