The Department of Agriculture (DA) some of the country’s major crop producing regions will be hit by El Niño this year, necessitating the implementation of measures that could cushion the impact of the weather phenomenon on production.
“Based on the latest climate outlook of PAG-ASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), many provinces will have below average normal rainfall by October. We will see if there is a need to adjust cropping calendars or intensify water management with the help of the National Irrigation Administration and irrigation associations,” said U-Nichols Manalo, DA field operations service officer-in-charge, in a briefing yesterday.
Manalo said the DA is also preparing pumping engines for areas with no sufficient water supply.
The agency, through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management with the Philippine Air Force will also conduct cloud seeding operations in areas that will not be reached by irrigation services, Manalo added.
Manalo said the latest PAGASA bulletin reported that as early as September, 46 provinces from the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga will experience below normal average rainfall, affecting crops like rice, corn and coconut and various fruit and vegetables.
Manalo said the extent of damage due to this year’s El Niño cannot be quantified nor be compared to what was recorded when a weak El Niño hit the country in 2019.
He said several other factors are at play, like inflation and cropping stages.
DA said damage caused by a weak El Niño in 2019 for rice and corn crops alone reached P10.7 billion equivalent to 357,000 hectares of affected land and a total volume loss of 618,845 metric tons.
Manalo said the expected below normal average rainfall may somehow be beneficial in some areas particularly those located in the Eastern Seaboard which usually have a wet climate.
“There are some areas which may benefit as well. Areas where production is not maximized as soil is always wet,” Manalo said.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said El Niño may be beneficial for tuna and sardines supply but will negatively affect aquaculture produce.
“During El Niño, the warm water may have a positive effect in our pelagic species. Based on our records, production of pelagic fish like tuna and sardines increase as the warm temperature of our oceans are favorable to them,” said Nazario Briguera, BFAR spokesperson, in the same briefing.
“Meanwhile, land-based aquaculture will experience a drop in water level, meaning this will also cause a decrease in dissolved oxygen level which may cause fish kill If we will not implement prompt mitigating measures,” Briguera added.
BFAR said tilapia and milkfish growers should follow good aquaculture practices in order to avoid possible fish kills.
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said government should start prepositioning aid and subsidies for farmers and fisherfolks.
“It is high time for the DA to grant P15,000 production subsidies for farmers and fishers.
Important support services including seeds, farm inputs and implements are also needed to counter the increasing costs of production,” the group said, in a statement.
KMP warned if the weather condition worsens, farmers and fishers may not be able to produce in the coming months due to lack of rainwater and irrigation which in turn could affect agricultural output.
