The first harvest of rice of 2011 for the residents of maria socorro and baludbud barangays in st bernard, southern leyte. Usually, they’d be harvesting their 2nd yield by september, but increasing frequency of strong rains and floods washed out their crops in january. Absence of post-harvest facilities add to the problem; since the grains are left to dry on roads—uneven and easily blown away by passing vehicles and wind—wastage is as high as 30 percent.

The first harvest of rice of 2011 for the residents of maria socorro and baludbud barangays in st bernard, southern leyte. Usually, they’d be harvesting their 2nd yield by september, but increasing frequency of strong rains and floods washed out their crops in january. Absence of post-harvest facilities add to the problem; since the grains are left to dry on roads—uneven and easily blown away by passing vehicles and wind—wastage is as high as 30 percent.