DA: P57.8B agricultural loss in 2024 due to El Niño and La Niña

Philippine agricultural output likely contracted in 2024 due to weather-related events such as El Niño and La Niña, according to analysts.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) recorded a total loss of P57.8 billion in agricultural production for 2024, primarily caused by El Niño's dry spells and tropical cyclones.

El Niño led to below-normal rainfall and dry spells, affecting crop yields and livestock health, while La Niña increased the likelihood of heavy rains and storms, damaging at least 993,823 hectares of agricultural land.

The DA estimates that palay output alone declined by nearly one million metric tons in 2024, with a total volume loss of 2.718 million metric tons.

For 2025, industry experts predict a potential rebound in farm output due to low base effects, contingent on timely distribution of inputs and the successful rollout of vaccines for African Swine Fever and bird flu.