MEXICO, Pampanga — Majority of at least 300 hectares of yellow corn crops in this town has withered due to lack of irrigation water.

This was confirmed to ARKIPELAGO NEWS BULACAN by Jerry Due, chairperson of the Pinagpalang Anao Irrigators and Farmers Association in this town.

Due said that irrigation water to their agricultural lands have suffered since the dam at the Abacan River was damaged around eight years ago and that they only rely on groundwater for irrigation during the summer months.

By February this year, Due noted that groundwater elevation has subsided causing its extraction for irrigation impossible.

With no irrigation water available, corn crops started to wither in February causing more than 50 percent decline on kernel productions that are of low quality and priced cheaper, Due said.

He explained that farmers can still harvest their withered corn crops but productions will fall by more than 50 percent of the expected harvest and of low quality.

Due cited that qood-quality corn kernels are being bought by traders at an average of P18.00 per kilo while damaged and low-quality kernels are usually priced lower by P6.00 per kilo.

📷: Mon Lazaro