El Niño damage to agriculture nears P4 billion — DA

Losses and damage to the country’s agriculture sector resulting from the El Niño phenomenon has reached nearly P4 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday.

In its El Niño bulletin, the DA said the estimated damage to the farm sector in 11 regions — Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen — stood at P3.94 billion, affecting 73,713 farmers and fisherfolk as of April 16.

A total of 66,065 hectares of farmlands were affected by El Niño. Of this number, 76.87% or 50,785 hectares have a chance of recovery, while 23.13%, or 15,281 hectares have no chance of recovery.

In terms of volume, a total of 162,793 metric tons (MT) of production loss was recorded in rice, corn, and other agricultural produce such as high-value crops and livestock.

Rice is the most affected crop with a total value loss of P2.36 billion from a total of 98,23 MT of damaged rice crops in 43,659 hectares of affected rice fields.

This is equivalent to around 1.07% of the target production of 9,218,358.28 MT, both for the dry cropping season this 2024, according to the DA.

As for corn, areas affected by the dry spell is at 18,201 hectares or 1.65% of the total target area planted of 1,101,695.90 hectares, while the production loss of 40,195 MT is 0.89% of the target production of 4,493,026.90 MT, both for the dry cropping season this 2024.

Value of production loss for corn reached P669.44 million.

Cassava saw total damage of P497,000 in six hectares of fields, equivalent to a volume loss of 38 MT.

High-value crops incurred losses of P868,8400 as volume damage reached 24,102 MT in 4,199 hectares of affected fields.

The fisheries sector and livestock and poultry sub-sectors saw losses amounting to P33.83 million and P6.95 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, the DA said it has distributed interventions totaling P1.09 billion worth of aid to affected farmers and fisherfolk, which include support for production, financial and livelihood assistance, and water management.

“As support to production, high value crops with less water requirement were distributed to farmers in Western Visayas amounting to P2.05 million,” it said.

The Agriculture department said it provided hybrid rice seeds worth P7.87 million and fertilizers worth P7.63 million to non-vulnerable areas in Western Visayas; rice and corn seeds worth P3.51 million in Ilocos Region to maximize production and compensate for incurred losses; and drugs, biologics, and high-density polyethylene hoses worth P840,000 million in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

For financial and livelihood assistance, the DA said it has provided a total of 60,013 native animals to 334 groups and 534 individual farmers nationwide through its Philippine Native Animal Development (PNAD) Program.

“In addition, the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) Program has provided financial assistance to 139,002 farmers in Cagayan Valley with a total amount of P701.96 million, and 71,795 farmers in Mimaropa Region with a total amount of P362.56 million,” it said.

“As support to fisherfolk, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has provided a total of 111 diversified alternative livelihoods and technologies in Cordillera, Bicol, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula Regions,” it added.

The DA, moreover, said that 6,867 farmers in Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen have been indemnified by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) with a total amount of P62.81 million.

The department said it has been continuously coordinating with the concerned offices for the provision and fast-tracking of financial assistance to affected farmers.

In terms of water management, the DA said its Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) was collaborating with relevant agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) and Department of National Defense-Philippine Air Force (DND-PAF), in cloud seeding operations.

Target areas include corn areas in Southern Cagayan, Northern Isabela, Quirino, and the Magat Reservoir located in Ifugao and Isabela.

“The overall success rate is 90% resulting in light to moderate rains over the municipalities of Cabagan, Sta. Maria, San Pablo and Tumauini in Isabela Province; Enrile, Iguig, Peñablanca and Tuguegarao in Cagayan Province; and Nagtipunan in Quirino Province,” the agency said.

“The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has installed 616 water augmentation pumps in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Davao regions ensuring that there is water source in these areas prior to installation. Concreting of irrigation canals is also ongoing, which improved 847.82 kilometers of irrigation canals, benefitting 40,621 farmers nationwide,” it said.

Desiltation of irrigation canals is being undertaken, improving water flow of 3,167.95 kilometers of irrigation canals nationwide, according to the agency.

“DA Regional Field Offices in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Mimaropa regions have endorsed the list of affected farmers to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Labor and Employment for other forms of assistance such as provision of food packs and cash for work programs,” the Agriculture Department said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News