DA: El Niño damages agriculture by PHP15.3B

The Department of Agriculture reported on Friday that total damage to agriculture due to El Niño reached PHP15.30 billion, affecting 333,195 farmers and fishers across 15 regions in the Philippines.

Damage to crops amounted to 784,344 metric tons in 270,855 hectares of agricultural land, with corn production suffering the highest damage at PHP5.94 billion followed by rice at PHP5.93 billion.

The fisheries sector experienced losses worth PHP53.44 million affecting 2,679 fishers and PHP37.97 million in livestock and poultry industry losses.

To mitigate the impact of El Niño, the DA provided interventions worth at least PHP14.54 billion including financial aid through the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program and production support to farmers and FCAs.

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation indemnified 56,112 farmers for a total of PHP452.56 million while around PHP99.38 million in Survival and Recovery loans were distributed.