Eastern Visayas faces P300M farm losses from El Niño drought

TACLOBAN CITY — Agricultural communities in Eastern Visayas are reeling from significant crop damage as a prolonged dry spell associated with El Niño conditions continues to grip the region. The Department of Agriculture-8 (DA-8) documented the extensive impact on local farming operations, with rice-growing areas bearing the brunt of reduced yields.

Rodel Mapacapañas, acting regional executive director of DA-8, confirmed the scale of the agricultural crisis affecting the region's farming sector. The drought has impacted a broad swath of cultivated territory, threatening the food security and livelihoods of thousands of rural families who depend on farming for their primary income.

Rice cultivation, the staple crop across Eastern Visayas, has been particularly hard hit by the moisture deficit, with farmers reporting diminished harvests across affected areas. The loss estimates reflect both reduced crop quantities and the inability of many farmers to recoup their initial investment in seeds, labor, and equipment for the affected growing season.

The DA-8 findings underscore the vulnerability of regional agriculture to climate variability and the need for adaptive measures to protect farming communities from prolonged dry conditions. Agricultural authorities are expected to provide relief assistance and technical guidance to affected farmers as conditions continue to develop.