The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI) said that while preparedness for El Niño will never be sufficient due to the difficulty of predicting its strength, early planting and a focus on drought-resistant crops could blunt the worst of its impact, as reported by BusinessWorld.
PCAFI emphasized that adapting agricultural practices ahead of the dry spell is critical. Shifting planting schedules earlier and selecting crop varieties that tolerate water scarcity are among the recommended measures to reduce potential losses in the sector, which is highly vulnerable to weather disruptions.
The group's remarks come as the Philippines braces for El Niño, which can cause prolonged dry periods and threaten food security. The agriculture department has previously urged local governments to implement water-saving techniques and distribute drought-resistant seeds to farmers.