ILOILO City — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has activated a range of contingency measures, including fuel subsidies and irrigation support, to cushion farmers and fisherfolk in Western Visayas from the looming impact of the El Niño phenomenon expected later this year.
DA Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Caballero assured that interventions are already in place, stressing that the agency’s top management is holding regular meetings to finalize and roll out support mechanisms for vulnerable sectors.
Caballero said the interventions include fuel subsidies accessible to various agricultural sectors, which can be used not only for logistics but also to support irrigation needs, especially in areas not covered by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
“Ito ay makakatugon lalo na sa mga far-flung areas, mga vegetable production areasna walang accesssa patubig na pwede magkaroon tulong sa pamamagitan ng solar-poweredirrigationoritong paggamit ng mga de-gasolina na bomba,” Caballero said.
She noted that rising temperatures could accelerate crop maturity, leading to earlier harvests and a temporary surge in vegetable supply in the market.
To prevent post-harvest losses, the DA is exploring assistance programs that would integrate food processing at the community or cooperative level.
Meanwhile, DA Region 6, led by Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia, has issued an advisory warning that El Niño could significantly disrupt agriculture and fisheries, the region’s primary sources of food and livelihood.
The agency said prolonged dry spells due to rising temperatures and delayed rains may reduce water availability, limit planting schedules, and lower crop productivity. Stronger typhoons during the southwest monsoon season could further exacerbate the situation by causing flooding and soil erosion.
Among the potential impacts identified by DA-6 are reduced harvest yields, declining soil moisture, increased pest and disease outbreaks, heat stress among livestock, fish mortality, and damage to marine ecosystems such as coral reefs and seaweed farms.
To mitigate these risks, the DA is urging farmers to insure their crops with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), adopt heat-resilient and early-maturing crop varieties, and plant short-cycle crops such as beans, peanuts, and soybeans.
Farmers are also encouraged to practice crop rotation, use organic fertilizers, and adopt water-saving techniques, including alternate wetting and drying and low-cost drip irrigation systems.
For livestock raisers, the agency recommends vaccination, proper registration with the Bureau of Animal Industry, and securing insurance coverage through PCIC.
Fisherfolk, on the other hand, are advised to manage feed and water efficiently, schedule harvesting and marketing activities strategically, and install protective structures in areas exposed to extreme heat. They are also urged to monitor water quality, prevent leaks in fishponds, and safeguard aquatic resources from predators.
The DA emphasized that early preparation and coordinated action will be critical in minimizing the potential damage of El Niño on the region’s food security and rural livelihoods./PN
