MANILA — The cost of damage to the agricultural sector in different regions of the country due to the El Niño phenomenon has reached more than P357.4 million.
This was informed by Agriculture Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Arnel De Mesa where this is the largest damage recorded in Western Visayas, particularly in Iloilo which will reach P127 million followed by Oriental Mindoro with P56 million.
An estimated 6,600 hectares of crops were damaged. About 1,100 hectares here are totally damaged while 5,400 hectares are partially damaged and there is still hope to recover.
De Mesa further said that only a small percentage of the rice crop was affected by the drought.
He said if the effect of this year’s strong El Niño is compared to previous droughts, particularly in 1997, it is not very severe.
Although the drought will intensify, the DA is also preparing for the entry of La Niña in the 2nd quarter of the year.
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