EL NIÑO is becoming a regular occurrence due to climate change. However, it seems like efforts to deal and adapt to the weather phenomenon seems sluggish.
This year El Niño has caused nearly a billion pesos worth of agricultural damages. Data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Davao Region showed that damages to high-value crops and livestock in the region have reached around P998 million.
Davao del Norte was the hardest hit with the partial and unofficial cost of damage reaching some P651.23 million while in Davao del Sur reported damage was at P347.45 million. No data has been released for other provinces in Davao Region.
In a Manila Bulletin report dated May 29, 2019, DA has reported that agricultural losses caused by El Niño phenomenon have reached P7.97 billion nationwide.
While DA has provided affected farmers assistance to help them cope with the El Niño phenomenon and mitigate its impact, the government and agricultural stakeholders must come up with long term solutions in combating this weather phenomenon.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) has recommended that concerned agencies must take “a holistic and proactive approach in mitigating the impacts of El Niño.”
“We cannot stop El Niño, but we can make swift and effective moves to soften its impact on the lives of our countrymen and the economy,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.
Neda said in a statement said agencies should focus on the five critical areas identified in the Roadmap for Addressing the Impacts of El Niño (Rain) framework -- food security, water security, energy security, health, and safety.
Aside from focusing on these critical areas, the government may include the development of better technology for farmers to cope with El Niño. The government may want to increase its funding for the research and development of new agricultural technologies. The government should also nurture an environment that will encourage our farmers and agriculturists to develop these new technologies.
With the unpredictability of the weather and the changes in the environment, efforts on dealing with the El Niño phenomenon should not merely be focused on short term interventions. Rather, additional efforts must be given in empowering our farmers and making the agricultural industry more resilient to weather phenomenon.