Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 30) — At least 1.27 million farmers have been insured between June and November this year to mitigate the impact of El Niño, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday.
In a statement, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said this was 76% of the targeted farmers and fisherfolk affected by drought.
He added that the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp, has set aside ₱1.8 billion to insure 916,759 farmers and fisherfolk between January and June 2024.
The DA chief also said ₱500 million worth of credit support under the Survival and Recovery Loan program was also reserved for 20,000 borrowers who may be affected by calamities such as the El Niño phenomenon.
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Other plans
Tiu Laurel said the El Niño task force has initiated measures in response to El Niño, including repair and rehabilitation of irrigation canals, cloud-seeding, dispersal of farm animals and provision of alternative livelihoods to farmers and fishermen, and implementation of low-water use technology for rice farming.
“We are leaving no stones unturned in our effort to ease the impact of El Niño on our farmers and fishermen as well as consumers,” he said.
Out of 843 kilometers of irrigation canals targeted, 740 kilometers have been improved and constructed as of November this year, Tiu Laurel said.
In addition, 40 units of small-scale irrigation systems covering 1,477.5 hectares have been repaired and rehabilitated to distribute water more effectively and efficiently, he added.
The agriculture chief also said the DA’s Bureau of Soil and Water Management has requested a total ₱112 million for cloud-seeding operations for 2024 to supplement the water requirement of standing crops during periods of low rainfall.
The agency also vowed to distribute 56,169 animals to 297 farmer groups and 470 individual farmers through the Philippine Native Animal Development Program.
Laurel said alternative livelihood and technologies adaptive to climate change will be provided to fishermen in Bicol, Central Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration declared the onset of the El Niño phenomenon last July.
According to the Department of Science and Technology, 63 provinces could possibly experience drought that may reach its peak in April next year.
