Government ramps up El Niño preparations

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is strengthening its preparations for the incoming El Niño as the weather phenomenon threatens to disrupt farm production and supply this year.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered the DA to intensify programs that will support local farmers and consumers for a “strong” El Niño event.

“What we learned during the 2024 El Niño will guide how we prepare and intervene this time around,” he said.

He added that farm losses could be minimized through the use of solar-powered irrigation, the adoption of low-cost greenhouses and the implementation of earlier planting schedules.

Tiu Laurel also pushed for the use of less water-dependent crops, such as mung beans or monggo, in drought-prone areas.

He said the DA has been ordered to conduct an assessment of irrigation systems, climate risk mapping as well as the stockpiling of drought-tolerant seeds.

The agriculture chief has likewise ordered the reinforcement of interventions under the National Rice Program to cushion the impact of El Niño on domestic rice production.

Support includes the procurement of climate-resilient seeds, along with assistance for fertilizer, mechanization, irrigation, water-saving technologies and credit.

The DA will also intensify farmer training services to improve their productivity and reduce production and postharvest costs.

The agency said earlier that palay or unhusked rice production is projected to decline to 18.8 million MT, its lowest level in a decade, due to the effects of the incoming “super” El Niño coupled with surging fuel and fertilizer costs.

The decline in production may also require more imports this year, in line with this the Philippines has secured a 1.5 million metric ton rice import deal with Vietnam until 2027.

Tiu Laurel said that actual import volumes may depend on both market prices and local rice output.

Improvements to its crop insurance, credit access and market support, are also being conducted to assist farmers that could be affected by the looming dry season. The El Niño Task Force has also been reactivated to improve interagency coordination.