Philippine rice farmers face ruin as fuel costs soar and drought strikes.

Rice farmers in the Philippines are struggling to survive. Two problems are hitting them at once: expensive fuel and a severe drought caused by the El Niño weather pattern. Fuel prices have risen sharply. Farmers need fuel to run water pumps and machinery. Without affordable fuel, they cannot irrigate their fields or process their harvest. The El Niño drought makes this worse. It brings long periods of dry weather. In many provinces, rice paddies are drying up. Crops are wilting in the fields. Many farmers are losing their entire harvest. They borrowed money to plant their rice, but now they have nothing to sell. Some are falling into debt. The Philippine government has promised help. Officials say they will provide subsidies for fuel and distribute drought-resistant rice seeds. However, farmers say the aid is too slow and too small. The situation is urgent. Rice is the main food for most Filipinos. If farmers cannot produce rice, the country may need to import more. That could raise food prices for everyone. For now, farmers wait for rain and relief. But with the drought expected to continue, many face a difficult year ahead.