Rice farmers expect irrigation delays to be costly

A DECISION by the National Irrigation Administration’s Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (UPRIIS) to postpone the release of irrigation water to March 2026 threatens the livelihoods of thousands of rice growers in Nueva Ecija and Tarlac, farmers said.

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In a statement on Thursday, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said the delay will affect nearly 40,000 hectares of rice land and about 25,000 farmers, who have seedlings ready for the December 2025 cropping season.

UPRIIS has said that irrigation water distribution will be suspended to allow repairs on the Talavera River Phase 1 siphon barrel, part of the CASECNAN Super Diversion Canal.

The canal supplies water to farms in San Jose City, Science City of Muñoz, Guimba, Rizal, Llanera, Lucban, Talugtog, Cuyapo, and Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija, as well as Victoria, Anao and Ramos, Tarlac.