Rice fields in Barangay Amansabina, Mangaldan are now ready for planting, but many farmers say the success of this season still depends on the timely release of irrigation water.

Farmers have been preparing their land for the second cropping season while waiting for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to release water into the canals.

“Mahalaga ang tubig talaga sa irigasyon para makapagtanim kami,” Rogelio Ferrer, a farmer, said.

The Mangaldan Agriculture Office earlier reminded farmers to follow the cropping calendar set by NIA, as the irrigation schedule varies by location. This season, however, fewer farmers are expected to plant rice because many fields can no longer be reached by irrigation canals and now rely only on rainfall.

With limited water and low chances of good yield, some farmers plan to shift from rice to corn, which needs less irrigation.

“Naka-set na schedule sa atin ay nasa 2nd or 3rd week ng November, base ‘yan sa napag-usapan,” Manuel Aquino, rice coordinator of the Mangaldan Municipal Agriculture Office, said.

Despite the challenges, the Pangasinan Farmers and Irrigators Association hopes more farmers will push through with planting. They say high prices of seeds and fertilizer, along with low buying prices for palay, continue to squeeze farmers’ income.

“Marami nang nagpunla, siguro nasa 20 percent na ang nakapagpunla sa province,” association president Juanito Español said.

Farmers are now watching the irrigation schedule closely, hoping water will arrive in time to ensure a productive second cropping season.