Agriculture officials are preparing for the looming El Niño phenomenon, focusing on irrigation and water impounding projects to preserve the harvest and minimize imports.
According to plans, the Department of Agriculture will expand its cold storage network to address inadequate storage and infrastructure, which is a major factor in decisions to import produce.
Storage investment will be guided by accurate data on production capacity and post-harvest losses, highlighting the need for precise planning to prevent food shortages.
This year's preparation timeline is more favorable, with weather forecasters expecting El Niño to peak around November, giving the Department of Agriculture more time to prepare.
The Agriculture Secretary emphasized the importance of preparedness, stating that it can prevent challenges from becoming crises and crises from deteriorating into catastrophes.
Several mitigating factors are expected to contribute to a more manageable situation, including easing fuel prices and a decline in global fertilizer prices, which have declined to around $450 per metric ton.
