El Niño damage to agriculture hits P6.8 billion
MANILA, Philippines — Agricultural damage has reached P6.8 billion this year as several areas struggle with dry spells linked to the very strong El Niño phenomenon in recent months, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said on Thursday, October 15, that while the amount accounts for the total damage recorded this year, the reduced water supply for irrigation due to lower rainfall has negatively affected crop production in some areas over the past two months.
“May mga nakaranas na nung dry spells at drought. Ibig sabihin, mga two months na bawas na sa mga pag-ulan, kaya ‘yung mga patubig sa mga agrikultura, kaya nagkaroon na rin ng kabawasan sa produksyon ng iba’t ibang crops sa iba’t ibang lugar,” Castillo said in an interview with dzMM.
(Some areas have already experienced dry spells and drought. That means rainfall has been reduced for the past two months, and so has irrigation for agriculture, resulting in a decline in the production of different crops across different areas.)
The agency added that, as of press time, 109 areas had already declared a state of calamity due to the impacts of El Niño, with most local government units expressing concerns over agricultural damage.
Concerns on rice, vegetable supplies
The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc., a private-sector group focused on agribusiness and food security, has also expressed concerns about the impacts of El Niño on the agriculture sector, including vegetable and rice supplies.
The group’s president, Danilo Fausto, said on Thursday, October 15, in a separate interview with dzRH that the rice supply of the National Food Authority (NFA) is currently insufficient and may last only 51 days, instead of the ideal 70 to 90 days.
He also warned that several factors, including the depreciation of the peso, rising importation costs, and the impact of El Niño on other countries from which the Philippines usually imports rice, may drive up domestic rice prices.
Fausto also said that while vegetable production is currently in favorable condition and is expected to remain so until the end of 2026, harvests may decline by the first quarter of next year as dry conditions worsen.
“We are expecting this last quarter meron tayong mga gulay…kasi maganda ang harvest natin. Ang problema pagdating mo next year ng first quarter towards March tuyot na ‘yan so hindi masyadong lalaki ang mga gulay,” Fausto said.
(We are expecting this last quarter that we will have vegetables… because our harvests are good. The problem is when drought comes in the first quarter towards March next year, the vegetables may no longer grow properly.)
Gov’t interventions
The OCD said the government has provided about P10 billion worth of assistance, particularly through the Department of Agriculture (DA), to help farmers prepare for the anticipated worsening dry conditions.
According to Castillo, the assistance included the distribution of water pumps, seeds and fertilizers, as well as livelihood support programs.
He also mentioned that the government has a National Action Plan for El Niño to monitor and address the situation in the areas of food security, water security, health security, energy and public safety during the phenomenon.
The state weather bureau PAGASA had earlier reported that drought may affect all provinces in the country in March 2027, warning the public of potential El Niño risks such as water shortages and heat-related illnesses.
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