Business · Philippines Bureau
El Niño inflicts P97 million damage on Bicol farms
The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that prolonged dry conditions across Bicol have destroyed nearly P98 million in crops, affecting thousands of farmers across the region.
LSN Philippines ·
LEGAZPI CITY — El Niño has wreaked significant damage on agricultural production across Bicol, with the Department of Agriculture reporting losses totaling P97.67 million, according to DA Bicol officials.
The weather phenomenon has impacted 2,799 farmers cultivating 1,239.62 hectares of farmland throughout the region. DA Bicol information officer Lovella Guarin cited prolonged dry conditions and below-normal rainfall as the primary culprits driving the crop failures, with sustained moisture stress affecting plant growth across multiple farming areas.
The extent of the damage underscores the vulnerability of Bicol's agricultural sector to extreme weather events. The region, a significant food-producing area in the Philippines, has seen its farming communities grapple with the cascading effects of changing climatic patterns in recent years.
The agricultural losses represent a substantial economic blow to rural communities dependent on farming for their livelihoods. Agricultural officials have not yet announced relief measures or assistance programs to help affected farmers recover from the El Niño-induced crop damage.