El Niño drought damage to agriculture rises to P1.33 billion in Philippines
This file photo shows a drought-ridden farm land The STAR/KJ Rosales
MANILA, Mar 20, 2019, PhilStar. The agricultural damage caused by a weak El Niño went up further to P1.33 billion as of March 19, data from the Disaster Risk Reduction Operations Center of the Department of Agriculture showed, reported the Philippine Star.
Just last week, agricultural damage was pegged at P464.27 million.
Drought claimed 78,348 metric tons of rice and corn—up by 242 percent from last week’s figure of 22,918 metric tons.
Damage on rice reached P814.44 million or 41,003 metric tons. This also translates to 54,925 hectares of rice fields and 69,889 farmers affected.
Production cost for corn reached P512.31 million or 37,345 metric tons, covering 15,043 hectares.
The area of drought-ridden agricultural lands also grew to 70,353 hectares, affecting 84,932 farmers and fisherfolk.
DA’s DRRM Operations Center said cloud seeding operations began in Cagayan Valley, Davao and Soccsksargen March 19, Tuesday. The next cloud seeding operations in these areas will be on March 25.
State weather bureau PAGASA said the El Niño is expected to persist until June.
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