THE Department of Agriculture on Friday reported that losses and damage to the country’s agriculture sector resulting from the El Niño phenomenon have reached nearly P4 billion.
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).
