Initial cost of damage to the agriculture sector of the effects of El Niño has reached P717,500, according to latest data from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center.
The DA attached agency in its advisory as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, said damage from the weather phenomenon is equivalent to 22.25 hectares of rice areas tended by 22 farmers in Zamboanga del Norte.
Amid the development, DA said damage and losses were incurred at vegetative stages of rice.
DA added so far, regular dissemination of advisories and agro-meteorological information through municipal and city agriculturists and report officers are being made using social media platforms.
The agency also said it continues to monitor weather condition and actual ground situation as well as validate vulnerable areas and identify interventions for farmers that are likely to be affected.
The DA is also consolidating and analyzing data such as planting and harvesting as well as source and status of irrigation systems apart from the conduct of joint area assessment before the conduct of cloud seeding operations.
It also said it has provided information to farmers on proper crop management during El Niño, including adjusting planting schedules and optimizing fertilizer use and continues to promote drought-resistant crop varieties that are better adapted to anticipated weather conditions.
Citing latest data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration, a strong and mature El Niño is ongoing and is expected to continue through February this year.
However, majority of global climate models suggest that El Niño will likely persist until May but can still transition to El Niño Southern Oscillation-neutral from April to June.
