According to the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines, some of the country’s major crop producing regions will be hit by El Niño this year. U-Nichols Manalo, DA field operations service officer-in-charge, said yesterday: “Based on the latest climate outlook of PAG-ASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), many provinces will have below average normal rainfall by October. We will see if there is a need to adjust cropping calendars or intensify water management with the help of the National Irrigation Administration and irrigation associations.”
Manalo said the latest PAGASA bulletin reported that as early as September, 46 provinces from the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga will experience below normal average rainfall, affecting crops like rice, corn and coconut and various fruit and vegetables.
Source: malaya.com.ph