El Niño gripping agri sector in Iloilo, other parts of Western Visayas

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Iloilo and other parts of Western Visayas are among the agricultural areas affected by the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, which has resulted in P8.57 billion in nationwide agricultural losses and affected more than 288,000 farmers, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In its second El Niño situation report issued on October 21, the DA identified Iloilo among the provinces that have reported damage to plantations of rice, corn and high-value crops as the country braces for a strong to very strong El Niño that could persist until the first half of 2027.

The DA said the weather phenomenon has affected 291,154 hectares of agricultural land nationwide, resulting in production losses of 220,307 metric tons.

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A total of 288,058 farmers have been affected across several regions, including Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

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The figures remain subject to validation by the DA’s regional field offices.

Although the bulletin did not provide a separate breakdown of agricultural losses in Iloilo or Western Visayas, the province appeared among the affected areas for rice, corn and high-value crops.

Antique was also identified among the provinces affected by rice production losses.

The DA reported that rice accounted for P2.95 billion in damage nationwide, affecting 112,852 hectares of farmland and resulting in production losses of 71,408 metric tons.

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Of the affected rice areas, 82,685 hectares were partially damaged, while 30,166 hectares were classified as totally damaged.

Corn suffered the largest financial losses among the commodities monitored, reaching P5 billion and affecting 173,068 hectares nationwide.

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The damage translated to 132,290 metric tons of lost corn production, with 41,691 hectares totally damaged and 131,378 hectares partially damaged.

High-value crops, including vegetables, fruits, legumes and spices, sustained P571.28 million in losses across 5,091 hectares.

The DA also reported P37.75 million in livestock and poultry losses involving 6,690 animals, while cassava losses reached P5 million.

Despite the substantial losses, the DA said reported rice production losses represented approximately 0.73 percent of the government’s 9.7-million-metric-ton production target for the second semester of 2026.

Corn losses accounted for about 1.50 percent of the country’s annual production target of 8.8 million metric tons.

Meanwhile, the government has undertaken cloud-seeding operations in Western Visayas as part of its measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño on agricultural production and water resources.

The DA said the operations were conducted in coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and the Philippine Air Force.

Similar operations were carried out in Cagayan Valley, including agricultural and watershed areas surrounding Magat Dam.

Western Visayas was also among seven regions where the government installed a combined 338 water pumps to improve agricultural water supply.

The DA bulletin did not specify how many pumps were installed in the region or identify the municipalities benefiting from the intervention.

The DA said it had provided an initial P11.34 billion in interventions for affected farmers nationwide.

Of this amount, P10.81 billion consisted of agricultural production support, including seeds, fertilizers, soil conditioners and other farm inputs distributed through regional field offices.

Another P569.95 million was provided through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation as indemnification for 68,980 affected farmers.

The department also distributed 95,841 livestock and poultry animals to 92 farmer groups and 306 individual farmers under its animal development and distribution programs.

According to Pagasa’s October 7 advisory, atmospheric and oceanic indicators confirmed the presence of a strong to very strong El Niño in the tropical Pacific.

Forecasts indicate that the phenomenon could reach its peak before the end of 2026 and may continue through the first half of 2027.

El Niño is associated with unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific and can bring below-normal rainfall to parts of the Philippines, increasing the risk of drought and agricultural losses.

The DA said water levels in major dams remained generally stable, with reservoirs staying above their respective low water levels, although Pantabangan Dam was below its target level.

Agriculture officials are continuing to monitor planting and harvesting activities, irrigation conditions and vulnerable farming communities in coordination with the National Irrigation Administration, Philippine Rice Research Institute and Bureau of Soils and Water Management.

The department is also disseminating advisories on drought-tolerant crop varieties, appropriate crop management practices and water conservation measures.

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With El Niño expected to continue into 2027, the prolonged threat of inadequate rainfall poses continuing challenges to farmers in Western Visayas, particularly those dependent on rainfall for irrigation.