UN’s FAO extends aid to El Niño – hit Isabela farmers

 

MANILA, Philippines — Unconditional cash assistance to farming households cushioned the effects of the El Niño phenomenon in Isabela province, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)  said.

According to FAO, the one-time distribution of multipurpose cash for 964 rice and corn farming households from 25 villages were used for basic necessities and alternative livelihood.

“Beneficiaries used the funds to buy food, cover school-related expenses and even pay debts,” the FAO said in a statement on May 27.

“Others used the funds to engage in vegetable trading as drought conditions peaked in the province.”

Aside from the multipurpose cash assistance, other FAO interventions included the distribution of supplemental cash for irrigation used to purchase fuel for water pumps, while farm tools were also turned over to 210 registered farmers.

The FAO said that while the multipurpose cash is important for urgent needs, it is also important to invest in proactive measures to mitigate the adverse impact of drought on poor farmer families.

FAO estimated that in the Philippines, a dollar invested in anticipatory action interventions like stated above could yield $4.4 in benefits and avoided losses.

The Department of Agriculture estimated that the agricultural damage caused by the El Niño phenomenon has already reached P6.3 billion, damaging 60,000 hectares of land.

The  El Niño, or the weather phenomenon which increases the prospect of below-normal rainfall conditions, brought record-high temperatures and a dry spell to the country.

The state weather bureau, however,declared the official start of the rainy or wet season in the country on Wednesday.