DA ramps up El Niño preparations to safeguard PH food supply

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is intensifying preparations for the anticipated El Niño phenomenon to help safeguard the country’s food supply while protecting farmers, fisherfolk, and livestock producers from the effects of prolonged dry conditions.

Speaking at the recent midyear food and agribusiness conference organized by the University of Asia and the Pacific Center for Food and Agri Business (UA&P-CFA), DA Assistant Secretary for Operations U-Nichols Manalo said the government is reactivating its national El Niño task force through a coordinated, multi-agency approach covering food, water, energy, health, and public safety.

“Our priority is to ensure that food remains available while minimizing the impact of El Niño on agricultural production,” Manalo said.

The DA is focusing on key agricultural commodities by adjusting cropping calendars, rehabilitating irrigation systems, and improving water management to maximize available water resources during the dry season.

“Because the most important thing during El Niño is the management of available water,” Manalo said.

Beyond crop production, the department is also strengthening measures to protect the livestock and fisheries sectors. These include animal health programs, livestock vaccination, and advisories urging aquaculture operators to avoid overstocking fishponds to reduce the risk of heat-induced fish kills.

To mitigate pest and disease outbreaks commonly associated with dry weather, the DA is enhancing existing interventions such as optimized crop fertilization, improved feeding strategies for aquaculture, and preventive animal health measures.

Manalo said the government will continue distributing seeds, fertilizers, and water pumps to farmers. The department is also seeking additional funding to cover fuel costs for irrigation pumps, ensuring the equipment provided can be fully utilized.

“If we distribute pumping engines, we are proposing additional funds to include fuel costs because diesel is expensive. We need to ensure that if the government provides the engines, we also provide the fuel so farmers can actually use them,” he said in Filipino.

The DA is likewise encouraging farmers to diversify into climate-resilient crops and alternative food sources, including white corn, root crops, indigenous vegetables, and various fish species that remain widely available in local markets.

Despite the expected slow-onset El Niño—described as the ninth episode in the past 30 years—and rising production costs, Manalo said the government is continuously validating field conditions to maximize production in areas less affected by drought.

“Despite these challenges, the industry was able to increase national output, demonstrating the resilience of the rice production sector,” he said.