DA preparing for possible El Niño effects — exec

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing for the possible effects of the El Niño in the country starting the third quarter of 2023, Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said Friday.

“Pinaghahandaan na ng Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka kung anuman ang magiging epekto ng El Niño (The DA is preparing for the possible effects of El Niño),” De Mesa said at a televised public briefing.

The El Niño phenomenon is characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and below normal rainfall.

According to De Mesa, the El Niño may affect 25 provinces until 2024.

He said the DA has reactivated the inter-agency El Niño Task Force, which is composed of concerned departments as well as the agencies under the DA.

He said the government is planning to establish more water-related infrastructures. For 2023, De Mesa said P750 million funds were allocated for small irrigation projects.

The DA is also coordinating with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to align their activities with the priority areas that will be affected by the El Niño.

De Mesa said the DA is also considering using drought-resistant varieties of grains, adjusting the planting calendar, and utilizing alternate wetting and drying techniques.

Asked about the possible impact of the El Niño on prices of agricultural products, De Mesa said the DA is coordinating with state weather bureau PAGASA and other agencies to assess the situation and mitigate the effects.

He said the Department is ensuring buffer stocks, seeds, irrigations, and budgets are in place especially in areas that will be affected.

According to him, the DA is also considering cloud seeding to improve the amount of rainfall during the El Niño.—AOL, GMA Integrated News