The country is bracing for the impact of El Niño, but experts warn that preparation will always fall short due to the unpredictable nature of the weather event.
According to the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc., the worst of the impact could be mitigated by early planting and focusing on drought-resistant crops.
PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto expressed concerns that dams will be short of water, and the ongoing energy crisis will limit farmers' ability to use irrigation pumps.
Fausto advised farmers to plant early if the government weather service forecasts a water shortage by September, emphasizing that a shortage by July or August would be catastrophic.
The cost of producing palay (unmilled rice) has increased significantly, with a hectare now costing between P70,000 to P80,000, up from P50,000 to P60,000 previously.
Fausto also recommended a shift to drought-resilient rice varieties, citing the inefficiency of inbred varieties backed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute.
