The Department of Agriculture (DA) has activated a comprehensive response strategy to mitigate the impact of El Niño on the country’s agricultural sector.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), El Niño is likely develop in the third quarter of 2026.

The weather phenomenon “could bring drier-than-usual conditions, including dry spells and possible drought in parts of the country.”

Cherryl Marie Caballero, DA Undersecretary for High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), outlined the agency’s multi-pronged approach to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk.

The official, during a press conference in Iloilo City, said their dedicated task force now meets on a regular weekly basis to streamline interventions and ensure that fuel subsidies and forms of government assistance reach the ground quickly.

These subsidies, she noted, are being made accessible to various aspects of the farming and fishing industries to cushion the blow of rising operational costs during the dry spell.

A key shift in the DA’s strategy involves the expanded use of fuel subsidies. While traditionally used for logistics and transport, the program is now being integrated into irrigation support, particularly for those situated outside of national irrigation systems.

“The fuel subsidy is not just for logistics anymore; we are including support for irrigation for those outside the system,” Caballero explained.

This move is expected to benefit far-flung vegetable production areas that lack traditional water access.

The DA is promoting the use of gasoline-powered pumps and solar-powered irrigation systems as sustainable alternatives to ensure crops receive adequate water despite the heat.

Caballero also addressed the sudden influx of produce. She explained that the extreme heat is causing crops to mature and ripen faster than usual, forcing farmers to harvest ahead of schedule.

“Because of the heat, the ability of plants to withstand the temperature is tested, leading to early maturation. This is why we see a sudden abundance of vegetables in the market that weren’t expected yet,” the undersecretary said.

To prevent food waste and stabilize prices during this period of “forced” abundance, the DA is working to integrate processing facilities at the community and cooperative levels.

By processing surplus harvests, the agency aims to ensure that farmers do not have to discard their produce and can instead add value to their crops.IMT