The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to convert up to 37,000 hectares of rice fields in Nueva Ecija to mung bean production after major irrigation damage threatened rice output in the country’s top rice-producing province.
The damage, caused by illegal quarrying, hit parts of the Upper Pampanga River Irrigation System (UPRIS), which the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is now rushing to repair. The disruption could cut the country’s early 2026 rice harvest by as much as 120,000 metric tons and leave many farmers without income for several months.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA will push crop diversification to help affected farmers earn while irrigation repairs are ongoing. Mung beans, which mature in about 60 days—much faster than rice—are seen as a practical alternative.
The Philippines currently imports nearly 50,000 metric tons of mung beans each year. Expanding local production could help replace imports, support food processing industries, and provide communities with affordable, nutritious food.
At current prices of about P70 per kilo, farmers can earn around P22,600 per hectare from mung beans, even with average yields. The DA said higher-yielding varieties could further improve earnings.
The DA and NIA also plan to expand mung bean planting to an additional 21,000 hectares along other irrigation systems. The agency said it will closely manage planting schedules and time imports to protect farmgate prices.
Tiu Laurel added that better data, improved crop planning, and tighter import controls—supported by a new Rice App—will help stabilize prices and ensure both consumers and farmers benefit.
“Our goal is fair prices for consumers and real profits for farmers,” he said.
