Farmers at risk from El Niño, urgent gov’t action needed – agri group

MANILA, Philippines—The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women urged the government to take both immediate and long-term measures to mitigate potential agricultural damage affecting farmers’ livelihoods amid the El Niño Alert and the fuel crisis.

Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that although ENSO-neutral conditions are currently dominant over the tropical Pacific, there is a 79% likelihood that El Niño will develop from June to August 2026 and could last until early 2027.READ: Pagasa issues El Niño Alert; drought in PH now likely

In a statement on Tuesday, Amihan Secretary-General and Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo said El Niño, intensified by climate change, has become a recurring challenge, yet the government insufficiently addresses its impact on agriculture.“If El Niño intensifies, it will directly affect the livelihood of farmers, which will affect the supply of rice in the country. So both producers and consumers are affected,” Estavillo said in Filipino.“With no or limited irrigation, people are forced to borrow and spend many liters of gasoline to harvest, in addition to the very high cost of farm inputs,” she added.Amihan’s May 2024 study on drought impacts documented cases in Albay of zero rice yield and very low production of about three cavans per half hectare.The report also found that livestock, poultry, and fisherfolk are similarly affected, with heat stress reducing fish catch and productivity.“The impact of El Niño is heavier now because of the oil price shock, so right now, the government should allocate a budget for this,” Estavillo said.

The group is calling on the government to implement a ₱50,000 production subsidy for farmers, prioritize irrigation systems for food production, distribute climate-resilient seeds for free, and provide immediate financial aid to affected farming communities.

She pointed out that irrigation development remains low at 69 percent, with Central Luzon reaching only 74 percent, while dam operations are still largely prioritized for power generation over agricultural water distribution.

Estavillo said that even before the full onset of El Niño, drought conditions are already being reported across the country.

Based on Pagasa data as of April 22, 15 areas in Luzon are experiencing drought, 32 areas are under a dry spell, and 23 areas are already facing dry conditions due to significantly below-normal rainfall over consecutive months. /gsg /atm