El Niño damage to crops climbs to ₧460M
DAMAGE to the farmer sector caused by El Niño has more than tripled to over P460 million, from the initial estimate of P150 million, according to the latest report by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The DA report indicated that 16,034 Filipino rice and corn farmers in six regions have incurred losses amounting to P464.27 million.
El Niño has affected 13,679 hectares of rice and corn farms
in Mimaropa, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The total production loss was placed at 22,918 metric tons (MT).
The DA said 7,851 rice farmers bore the brunt of El Niño. They lost 17,232 MT of palay valued at P377.9 million. El Niño affected 9,860 hectares of rice farms in six regions.
The report also revealed that 8,183 corn farmers incurred losses amounting to P86.4 million. Total corn output damaged by El Niño was estimated at around 5,686 MT, which were planted in 3,819 hectares.
Mimaropa was hardest hit by El Niño as it accounted for 41 percent of losses recorded by the DA. A total of 3,528 farmers in the region lost P191.07 million.
The DA said, however, that the amount of crop losses will still have to be validated. It added that it will continuously assess the damages and losses incurred by farmers and monitor standing crops in vulnerable areas.
The government has also started to monitor water quantity and quality in areas that may be affected by El Niño.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Council said it would immediately release indemnification to insured farmlands that would cover up to 100 percent of the damage, according to the DA.
Cloud seeding
AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said he has directed other DA officials on Monday to conduct cloud-seeding operations in El Niño-affected areas to ensure that crops would receive ample rainfall.
Piñol said he has instructed Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Ariel T. Cayanan to “order the DA regional offices to implement cloud-seeding operations.”
The agriculture chief said he also ordered cloud-seeding operations over Bulacan, Pampanga and Rizal to ensure sufficient water level in La Mesa Dam.
“Usec. Cayanan was directed to coordinate with the Philippine Air Force for the cloud-seeding operations over Bulacan, Pampanga and Rizal to fill up La Mesa Dam,” he said in a post in his official Facebook page on Monday.
“As early as last year, funds were already transferred to the regional offices and the Philippine Air Force for cloud-seeding operations in preparation for the El Niño,” he added.
The DA, according to the report, has released P18.3 million for cloud-seeding operations to its regional field offices and the Philippine Air Force. The agency said it has also coordinated “with the LGUs and other key stakeholders for measures and interventions to mitigate the effect of El Niño.”
“Joint Area Assessment has been conducted by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and Philippine Air Force in Regions 2, Mimaropa, 7, and 12 for pre-cloud seeding operations,” the DA report read.
“The conduct of cloud-seeding operations was recommended in Regions 2 and 12, which are scheduled between March 14 to May 21, 2019,” it added.