Farmers tend to their crops at the Greenland Urban Farm in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City on April 25, 2024. The lack of rain during the past months and the rising temperature in the country affected the quality of their crops according to the farmers. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA -- Damage to local agriculture caused by the El Niño phenomenon has soared to P5.9 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.

Data from the DA showed losses on rice crops have reached P3.1 billion, which was the largest damage in the agricultural sector.

Damage to corn output was reported at P1.76 billion, while the total damage to high value crops was valued at P958 million.

Despite the high value of damage to rice crops, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa noted that only 2.17 percent of the total area planted with rice is affected by El Niño.

This equates to 1.4 percent of the expected volume output of 9.2 million metric tons for the dry cropping season.

“Pinahahanap ko rin kung ‘yong P3.1 billion ay nasa vegetative o maturity stage. ‘Yong area na nagha-harvest, hindi na masyadong affected ng El Niño,” De Mesa said.

(I am having it checked if the P3.1 billion worth of crops lost is in the vegetative or maturity stage. The areas undergoing harvest are not that much affected by El Niño.)

As temperatures continue to rise, farmers are gearing up for the wet cropping season.

The agriculture department hopes for better rice production in the second quarter as more farmers are expected to harvest rice planted during the dry season.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported a drop of 100,000 metric tons in local palay production in the first quarter of 2024.

“Ang magiging epekto niya ngayon ay preparation for wet season as land preparation. Kung kulang ng tubig, magkakaroon ng delay ng planting for next season,” De Mesa said.

(Its impact now is on land preparation for the wet season. If there is not enough water, this would cause a delay in planting for the next season.)

De Mesa added that it is still uncertain if the damage to rice crops will impact market prices.

“Magkakaroon ng price impact kung ang papasok na imported ay masyado ring mahal at ‘yong local production mo ay kulang. Ngayon, hindi naman masyadong mataas ang presyo sa international market compared last year,” De Mesa explained.

(There will be a price impact if imports are too expensive, and if local production is not enough. For now, international market prices are not as high compared to last year.)

P97 million worth of relief assistance has been distributed to 1.9 million farmers and fisherfolks affected by El Niño, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said food packs were given to address the needs of affected families.

“Ito ang immediate na pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan na naapektuhan ng severe drought as a result of El Niño phenomenon,” Dumlao said.

(These food packs are what our countrymen affected by severe drought immediately need.)

Dumlao added that affected families were identified based on reports submitted by local government units.

The DSWD is currently prioritizing relief for areas declared under a state of calamity.

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