The El Niño weather phenomenon has left P357 million in damage to the farm sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.
DA Spokesperson Arnel De Mesa said about 1,112 hectares of land have been totally damaged while 4,400 hectares have been partially destroyed but still have the chance to recover.
Regions most hurt by the dry conditions are Ilocos Region, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and the Zamboanga Peninsula, De Mesa said.
Iloilo province bore the brunt of El Niño with P127 million worth of losses, followed by Oriental Mindoro with P56 million, he said.
The DA assured farmers of assistance, including loans with no interest and collateral as well as insurance through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, which earmarked P500 million.
Survival and Recovery Loan are also available to farmers, who can borrow up to P25,000 with no interest or collateral, De Mesa said.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation has also set aside P1.8 billion for insurance claims as farmers in affected areas can claim up to P20,000 each.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also allotted P500 million for fuel assistance, De Mesa said.
Affected communities were given solar-powered irrigation systems and shallow tube wells, as the DA also distributed crops that require “lesser daily water requirement” as alternative forms of livelihood for farmers – including garlic, onion, potatoes, squash, cabbage, among others.
While it can help in addressing drought, cloud seeding operations are not immediately done in the affected areas, said De Mesa.