The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said it is intensifying climate-resilient farming measures and emergency interventions, following the state weather bureau’s warning that an El Niño episode is likely to develop in the coming weeks and could strengthen toward the end of the year, as reported by BusinessWorld .
The DA outlined a series of adaptive strategies, including the promotion of drought-resistant crop varieties, expanded irrigation support, and the distribution of early-warning systems to farming communities. These measures aim to mitigate potential losses in crop production, fisheries, and rural livelihoods as the weather phenomenon threatens to disrupt agricultural cycles.
In addition to long-term resilience programs, the DA is preparing emergency interventions such as the pre-positioning of seeds, fertilizers, and livestock feed in vulnerable areas. The agency emphasized the need for local government units and farmers to adopt proactive planning to reduce the impact of prolonged dry spells and water shortages expected during the El Niño period.