The government is earmarking an initial P1.7 billion for measures to protect the agriculture sector from the ill-effects of the El Niño phenomenon amid concerns that a severe drought might cause more than P10 billion in production losses.

The package of intervention measures was proposed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) after it was designated to lead a task force reactivated by President Arroyo to combat the El Niño dry weather during the Cabinet meeting in Malacañang.

Conrado Limcaoco, officer-incharge of the Office of the Press Secretary, said the President wanted the DA-led task force to come up with a comprehensive action plan to ease the impact of the drought on the people and the economy. Also included in the government’s plan against El Niño weather is the massive water conservation campaign in households, offices, and commercial establishments in the next six months.

Agriculture Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla said the country could expect a “moderate” El Niño phenomenon this year which may affect large plantations of rice, corn, fisheries, and high-value crops such as vegetables in vulnerable parts of the country.

He said the government anticipates close to P10 billion in agricultural losses if the El Niño is “mild.”

“If the effect is severe, which is unlikely, then it would be greater,” the agriculture official said.

From the proposed P1.7-billion funds to mitigate El Niño, Fondevilla said agriculture department recommended immediate cloud seeding in corn and rice areas, water management especially in dams, distribution of shallow tube wells, as well as seed and fertilizer support. He said the agriculture department will give assistance to the fisheries sector to minimize losses during the El Nino weather.

These intervention measures, he said, sought to raise crop production and farmers’ income even during El Niño, an abnormal weather condition characterized by the lack of rainfall.

Fondevilla said 543,844 hectares of rice, 273,411.6 hectares of corn, 16,992 hectares of fisheries and 3.07 million metric tons of vegetables are vulnerable to the effects of El Niño in the country.

While other crops suffer from dry weather, Fondevilla said the mango industry is expected to grow during this dry season. “We expect a repeat of growth of mangoes this year since mangoes thrive in dry weather. We will distribute mango flower inducer,” he added.

Fondevilla said the agriculture department will source the P1.7 billion from the internal budget.

Asked if the drought could lead to water and food crisis, Limcaoco said such scenario is unlikely if the government interventions planned yield the effects desired.

Limcaoco also assured there was still no need for water rationing due to El Niño even as he renewed his appeal to the public to conserve the vital natural resource.

The agriculture department earlier identified areas considered highly vulnerable to El Niño, namely Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga City, Sarangani, and South Cotabato.

Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Romblon, Sorsogon, Aklan, Antique, Bohol, Samar, Zamboanga Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga Sur, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Davao Sur, and Davao City are considered as moderately vulnerable to the El Niño phenomenon.