El Niño's Toll on Philippine Agriculture Exceeds P941 Million

janimonow

February 29

The impact of the El Niño phenomenon has escalated, inflicting over P941 million in damages to the agricultural sector, according to the latest figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). This significant increase highlights the severe effects of prolonged dry spells across various regions in the Philippines, with Western Visayas bearing the brunt at P564 million, followed by substantial losses in Mimaropa, Ilocos, Calabarzon, and Zamboanga.

In San Miguel, Bulacan, the agriculture sector has been hit hard, with 25 out of 49 barangays experiencing damage, notably Barangay Sacdalan, where up to 300 hectares of crops have been affected. The nationwide toll includes 16,709 farmers and fisherfolks, alongside 14,854 hectares of crops, underscoring the widespread impact of this climatic event.

Glenn Ortiz, an agriculturist from San Miguel, mentioned that most farmers are covered by the Philippine Crop Insurance and are awaiting inspection and validation for possible compensation. The local government is considering measures like establishing water impoundments and promoting alternative high-value crops to mitigate the damage and provide relief to the affected farmers.

The scarcity of water has been a critical issue, with farmer Eduardo Domingo noting the cessation of water supply from the National Irrigation Administration as early as January, leading to dried-up fields and jeopardizing the March harvest season. This situation is mirrored in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, and Zamboanga City, where water shortages have prompted rationing schemes for drinking and agricultural purposes.

In response to the crisis, the municipal government of Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, has declared a state of calamity, with rivers and fields drying up, affecting both water supply and crop cultivation. The NDRRMC reports that assistance worth P362 million has been extended to those affected in Mimaropa.

The onset of El Niño was officially declared by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on July 4 last year, marking a period characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, leading to reduced rainfall. While PAGASA anticipates the mature stage of El Niño to conclude by February, its lingering effects are expected to persist into the March-April-May period, posing ongoing challenges for the agriculture sector and water resources in the Philippines.