Experience shaping El Niño preparations

Title Experience Shaping El Niño Preparations A Wake-Up Call for Far
Farmers

As we look ahead to 2026, it's essential to learn from past experiences and
and prepare for potential challenges. The looming threat of El Niño has sen
sent a wake-up call to the agricultural sector, with experts warning of a s
significant impact on farm output and economic growth.

In 2024, El Niño caused severe droughts that led to a decline in agricultur
agricultural production by 2.2 percent. This experience serves as a stark r
reminder of the importance of preparedness. As Agriculture Secretary Franci
Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized, The only question that needs to be an
answered is its intensity.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administr
Administration (Pagasa) has issued an El Niño alert, predicting a 79-percen
79-percent chance of the weather pattern developing between June and August
August and lasting until early 2027. This necessitates immediate action fro
from farmers, policymakers, and agricultural institutions.

Juxtaposing Experience with Preparations

The experience of the 2024 El Niño serves as a valuable lesson in preparati
preparation. By juxtaposing this experience with current circumstances, we 
can better prepare for the challenges ahead. For instance

Shifting to less water-intensive crops This strategy can help farmer
farmers mitigate the impact of prolonged dry spells.
Revising planting calendars Adjusting planting schedules can ensure 
that crops are not exposed to unfavorable weather conditions.
Rolling out more solar-powered irrigation systems Investing in renew
renewable energy sources can offset rising fuel and electricity costs.

Expert Insights

PhilRice Executive Director John de Leon emphasized the probability of a mo
moderate to strong El Niño, with some global climate models pointing to a p
potential super El Niño. De Leon stressed that DA officials are reviewing
reviewing rainfall projections and water availability to adjust planting st
strategies.

Agriculture Undersecretary Christopher Morales highlighted the need for pro
proactive measures, including optimizing water allocations and ensuring irr
irrigation systems are ready for prolonged dry spells.

Lessons from 2024

The experience of the 2024 El Niño serves as a reminder of the importance o
of preparedness. In 2024, agricultural output declined by 2.2 percent, driv
driven by a 4.2-percent drop in the crops sector, which accounts for 56 per
percent of total farm production.

Rice and corn, the country's staple crops, were among the hardest hit. The 
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) warned that El Niño could cause subs
substantial rice losses and worsen hardship among farmers.

Conclusion

As we move forward into 2026, it's crucial to learn from our past experienc
experiences and prepare for potential challenges. By juxtaposing experience
experience with preparations, we can better navigate the uncertainties of E
El Niño. As the DA emphasizes, The urgency is shaped by recent experience.
experience. Let us use this experience as a wake-up call to take proactive
proactive measures and ensure a more resilient agricultural sector.

Keywords El Niño, agricultural output, economic growth, climate resili
resilience, irrigation infrastructure

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Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.