The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported initial losses in crops due to El Niño as of the first week of February 2024 at P109 million, covering the rice and corn crops.

For rice crops, eight towns reported significant damages namely Hamtic, Patnongon, Valderrama, Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, San Jose, and Sibalom with 1,762.57 hectares of palay farms in total.

Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Gina Jordan said that of the affected areas, 102.05 hectares were totally damaged, while the remaining 1,660.52 were partially affected.

She also noted that the palay plantations are at the maturity and reproductive stage with crop losses valued at P92,906,914 based on the current buying price of palay.

As to corn crops, Planning Officer Serafin Yanga also reported that seven municipalities were affected by the long dry spell namely Barbaza, Patnongon, Hamtic, Sibalom, Valderrama, San Remigio, and San Jose, covering 327.855 hectares of standing corn crops affecting 430 farmers in the province with estimated losses in the amount of P17,980,807.

Of the total areas affected planted with corn, 84.14 hectares are reported totally damaged, while the remaining 234.715 hectares are partially affected.

To help the affected farming communities, Gov. Rhodora J. Cadiao already directed the OPA to promptly validate the extent of damages and render necessary assistance to the farmers.

While the validation is ongoing, Provincial Agriculturist Nicolasito Calawag assured farmers that those who are insured will receive support from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), including yearly allocations for seeds from the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

In an interview early on the provincial agriculturist, he stressed the importance of maintaining agricultural output by

temporarily shifting to drought-resilient crops that could withstand the long dry season to maintain farm productivity.

Calawag said that this way, affected lands may still be used in producing drought-tolerant and early-maturing crops needed for the food security and sustainability of the province.

The government under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., earlier last year, also reactivated the inter-agency El Niño Task Force and established the 2023 El Niño Mitigation and Adaptation Plan, both are intended to lessen the impact of the phenomenon on the agriculture and fisheries sector.

Meanwhile, the Province of Antique has also its El Niño Mitigation plan to address this concern, however, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Antique has still to declare the province under a State of Calamity so the funds could be utilized for such a purpose. 

Source - https://pia.gov.ph