Bicol Region Faces Agricultural Crisis Amidst El Niño Drought
The Bicol region, primarily the provinces of Albay and Masbate, is currently grappling with a severe agricultural crisis due to the ongoing El Niño-induced drought. The Department of Agriculture has reported staggering losses totaling PHP 171 million, with Masbate bearing the brunt of the damage at PHP 140.6 million and Albay at PHP 30.4 million.
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Over 6,561.72 hectares of rice fields have been affected, and 2,300 hectares are considered irrecoverable. This has led to a significant drop in rice production, with an estimated 8,000.53 metric tons lost, affecting the livelihoods of 7,129 farmers.
In an effort to address the situation, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has enacted Executive Order No. 53, which outlines a series of interventions to combat the effects of both El Niño and La Niña phenomena. The DA-Bicol’s Regional Crops Protection Center is also actively monitoring pest infestations that have compounded the farmers’ woes, affecting an additional 1,047 hectares of corn and rice crops.
The regional agriculture office has stepped in to provide much-needed assistance, distributing biological control agents and chemical pesticides to manage the pest outbreak. This multi-faceted approach aims to alleviate the immediate challenges faced by the farmers and stabilize the region’s agricultural output.
As the Bicol region navigates through these challenging times, the resilience and collective efforts of the local government, farmers, and the Department of Agriculture are crucial in overcoming the adversities posed by climate change and natural calamities.