By Sarwell Meniano
TACLOBAN CITY – Despite reports of below-normal rainfall affecting farms in Leyte and Samar provinces, Department of Agriculture (DA) officials stated on Tuesday that rice production will not be significantly impacted.
According to Ma. Luisa Capili, the disaster risk reduction management focal person for DA Eastern Visayas, certain areas such as Leyte’s towns of Leyte, Calubian, and San Isidro, as well as Samar’s Sta. Margarita and Biliran, have reported drying of fields due to the dry spell.
Capili mentioned ongoing validation and monitoring of the El Niño event, acknowledging manifestations of dry spells in some rice areas.
The official said the region is not experiencing the El Niño phenomenon since the majority of the areas still experience rainfall, but the volume is below normal.
Based on the latest report, none of the six provinces in Eastern Visayas are on the list of 41 El Niño-hit provinces this year.
The DA regional office aimed to surpass its 2023 rice production in Eastern Visayas to support other regions badly affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
Several interventions have been extended to farmers in the early part of the year to ensure a higher yield this year.
Data by the Philippine Rice Research Institute showed that the region harvested 844,372 metric tons (mt) of palay (unhusked rice) last year, slightly higher than the 840,345 mt recorded in 2022.
Eastern Visayas devoted 45 percent of its land area, or 976,415 hectares, to agriculture. The rest are forest lands, grasslands, and other purposes.
Of its agricultural lands, 70 percent are for coconut production, and rice and corn in the remaining areas. (PNA)
