THE rapidly intensifying El Niño has battered more plantations, with damage climbing to over P8.5 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The latest DA bulletin showed that agricultural damage brought by the strengthening dry spell has swelled to P8.57 billion, with losses recorded across 14 regions.
This has so far affected 288,058 farmers with 291,154 hectares of agricultural areas.
Also, the volume of losses has soared to 220,307 metric tons (MT), severely hitting the corn sector which sustained most of the damage at 132,290 MT worth P5 billion.
This was followed by rice, with losses pegged at 71,408 MT valued at P2.95 billion, based on the DA report.
High-value crops were also struck by El Niño, damaging 16,450 MT of highland and lowland vegetables at P571.28 million.
The livestock and poultry sector lost 6,690 animals from the climate pattern, which includes swine, carabao, duck, chicken, goat, cattle, turkey, and goose. The value of losses stood at P37.75 million.
Citing Pagasa, the DA noted a ‘strong to very strong’ presence in the tropical Pacific.
Forecasts predict El Niño may peak before yearend and persist until the first half of 2027, according to the state weather bureau.
While the latest water levels across major dams remain generally stable, Pagasa flagged the fact that Pantabangan Dam is below its target water level.
Mitigation measures
To cushion the El Niño’s impact on farmers’ livelihood and production, the DA said it has rolled out an initial P11.34 billion worth of interventions to affected individuals.
Broken down, P10.81 billion worth of assistance was given to provide farm inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, soil conditioner.
The DA, through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), has also allocated P569.95 million in indemnification payments based on claims filed by 68,980 farmers.
Further, 95,841 chickens, ducks, swine, goats, sheep, cattle, and rabbits were distributed to 92 groups of farmers and 306 farmer individuals through the Philippine Native Animal Development (PNAD) Program and Animal Production and Distribution (APAD).
The DA also conducted cloud seeding operations in collaboration with Pagasa and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in agricultural and watershed areas in Cagayan Valley and Western Visayas.
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It added that 338 water pumps were installed to enhance water supply in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.