The El Niño phenomenon has caused more than P700,000 worth of damage to rice fields in Zamboanga del Norte, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Based on DA's Bulletin No. 1 released last January 24, a total of P717,530 damages were recorded in 22.25 hectares of rice areas in the said province, affecting the livelihoods of 22 farmers and fisherfolks.
"The damage and losses were incurred at vegetative stages of rice," it noted.
The agriculture department assured that it is addressing the matter by disseminating advisories and agro-meteorological information regularly, monitoring the weather and situation, validating the areas vulnerable to El Niño, and determining the assistance to be provided to affected farmers.
Moreover, DA bared that it plans to conduct cloud seeding operations and introduce drought-resistant crop varieties to farmers in Zamboanga del Norte.
PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando earlier told DZRH that 15 provinces were forecasted to experience drought while 12 other provinces would experience a dry spell this January.
He said the El Niño is expected to reach its peak in February and may significantly strengthen by April.
