What was supposed to be a profitable harvest turned into a major loss for a farmer in Pangasinan as extreme heat linked to El Niño damaged his crops and cut his earnings dramatically.

Willie Sison, a farmer from Barangay Santo Tomas in San Jacinto town, planted singkamas on more than 4,000 square meters of farmland and spent over P20,000 on production costs. But because of the intense heat, much of his crop was destroyed and buyers purchased his harvest for only P3,000.

“Sa ngayon ‘yung pang gulay na singkamas naubos ang mga bulaklak nawala mga bunga tapos ‘yung bunga sa ilalim natuyo sa sobrang init ng panahon,” Sison said.

Farmers said irrigation could have helped save some of the crops, but the high cost of diesel used for water pumps would only increase expenses without any guarantee of a better harvest.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Pangasinan is already experiencing the effects of El Niño. The weather bureau warned that conditions may worsen from June to August.

“By the end of May talaga nakakaranas tayo ng drought condition, sa ngayon talagang 79% na may El Niño,” Engr. Jose Estrada Jr., chief meteorologist of PAGASA-Dagupan City, said.

With dry conditions expected to continue, farmers are now adjusting their planting strategies by shifting to crops that can better withstand extreme heat.

“Hihintayin ‘yung June para magtanim kasi ‘yung rainy season mag-start doon sila mag-start din na magtanim kapag may ulan na,” Engr. Rosendo So, chairman of SINAG, said.

Sison said farmers in their area are also turning to more drought-resistant crops to survive the dry spell.

“Kapag El Niño mga kalabasa at talong ang itanim namin,” he said.