El Niño affected over 180,000 farmers, says the agriculture department

Drought-hit farm in Imus, Cavite (File photo taken on March 2, 2024 by RICHARD A. REYES)

MANILA, Philippines — More than 180,000 farmers and fisherfolk were affected by the El Niño phenomenon in 2024, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.

According to DA Assistant Secretary U-Nichols Manalo, the top agricultural commodities that were destroyed during this period were rice and corn.

READ: DA: Agriculture damage due to El Niño hits P6.3 billion

“No’ng tinerminate itong El Niño, out of the 9.2 metric tons production target, nasa 191,000 metric tons lang po ‘yong damage on rice. So that’s around two percent,” Manalo said in a media briefing.

(When the El Niño ended, out of the 9.2 metric tons of production target, only 191,000 metric tons of rice were damaged. So that’s around two percent.)

Manalo added the country’s supply of rice and corn was not severely affected.

“Do’n sa corn, out of the 4.5 million metric tons na production target ng corn, nasa 188,000 metric tons lang po ang damage sa corn. So that’s four percent,” he said.

(For corn, out of the 4.5 million metric tons production target for corn, only 188,000 metric tons of corn were damaged. So that’s four percent.)

“Ibig sabihin, hindi po gaanong apektado ang ating supply galing sa palay at galing mais,” he noted.

(That means to say, our supply of rice and corn was not affected severely.)

The DA likewise said that 170,000 hectares of farmland was affected by the El Niño.

READ: Pagasa declares end of El Niño

Damage to produce was estimated at 441,801 metric tons, equivalent to around P9.8 billion.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration declared the end of the El Niño on June 7.