Heavy rains have devastated watermelon crops in Mangaldan, leaving farmers facing significant losses during what should have been their harvest season.
Farmers in barangays Lanas, Amansabina, Alitaya, and Buenlag were preparing to harvest their watermelons between late December and January.
However, continuous rains have damaged many of the crops.
“Maraming umiiyak sa pagkalugi talaga,” Rudy Ogoy, one of the farmers, said.
While some watermelons were salvaged, the remaining harvest is not enough to cover the farmers’ production costs.
“’Yung mga late na nagtanim alagang sila ang maapektuhan,” Merle Cuison-Sali, the municipal agriculturist, said.
She said too much water from the rain impacts watermelon growth negatively.
The Mangaldan Municipal Agriculture Office is coordinating with the Department of Agriculture to request free watermelon seeds for affected farmers.
They are also assessing the total damage caused by the rains to provide better support.
Source - https://www.gmanetwork.com
