El Niño agri damage climbs to P6.3 B

Damage to agriculture due to the El Nifio phenomenon has increased to P6.3 billion, the Department of Agriculture DA) reported yesterday.

- ROMINA CABRERA

DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa said Mimaropa remains the most affected region, with damage placed at P1.7 billion followed by Western Visayas, with P1.5 billion, and Cordillera Administrative Region, P800 million.

Rice was the most affected crop, with losses totaling P3.3 billion; corn, P1.9 billion, and high-value crops, P1 billion.

De Mesa said 129,000 hectares of agricultural land were affected by drought.

He said the recorded losses were still below the estimates at the onset of El Niño.