The onslaught of successive typhoons and the destruction they caused are but some of the reasons why the farm sector is on its knees begging to be rescued. The triple whammy of Typhoon Quinta, Supertyphoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses wreaked havoc on farms and fishing grounds in Luzon and Visayas. The destruction caused by Ulysses alone reached more than P2 billion, with the rice sector suffering its brunt, according to estimates by the Department of Agriculture (See, “Ulysses hikes losses incurred by farmers, fishers,” in the BusinessMirror, November 16, 2020).
Destruction of crops by these powerful typhoons will push farmers deeper into poverty. Sadly, it is common knowledge that the Philippines is visited by some 20 cyclones each year. The extent of the damage, however, would depend on the intensity of the typhoons that will strike the country. Unfortunately, strong typhoons are becoming the norm and this does not bode well for the Philippine agriculture sector, which is also highly dependent on good weather to increase output.
Aside from storms, the country has been increasingly experiencing dry spells in recent years. In the last 10 years, the Philippines has witnessed three El Niño episodes—in 2009-2010, 2015-2016, and in 2018-2019. The 2015-2016 El Niño episode was the most destructive as it lasted for 18 months and resulted in the loss of crops including rice, corn, cassava and high value produce such as banana and rubber, valued at $325 million, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization.
After the El Niño stopped affecting the Philippines, another climate cycle is upon us. The country is currently grappling with La Niña, which tends to bring more rainfall and cause flooding. La Niña, according to the state weather bureau, may affect tropical cyclone activity from end-2020 up to the early part of 2021. As the northeast monsoon has started, the state weather bureau warned that La Niña could enhance the northeast monsoon (amihan) that brings cold air to our shores, which can trigger floods, flashfloods and rain-induced landslides over susceptible areas.
The recent typhoons and the ill effects of climate change would necessitate the release of additional funds to assist farmers and help the sector recover (See, “2021 budget must fund rehab of Luzon agri power houses,” in the BusinessMirror, November 17, 2021). The money can be used to distribute seeds and other inputs to affected farmers and repair farm infrastructure damaged by storms and other natural disasters. The scramble for funds happens almost every year, given the increasing number of strong typhoons that have been visiting the country in recent years.
While there is nothing that the Philippines can do about the greenhouse gas emissions of rich countries, the state can prepare the local farm sector by implementing policies that would secure the country’s food supply. Congress can start doing this by passing the National Land Use Act, which would ensure the rational and sustainable use of the country’s land and physical resources and harmonize sector-specific land use policies and institutionalize land use planning. Government may also consider investing in four climate adaptation measures put forward by the World Resources Institute—integrate crop-livestock-forestry systems, rehabilitate degraded pastures, plant agroforestry systems, and pursue sustainable forestry. There is pressing need to improve agricultural productivity for food security. There is no time to lose. We need to act now to mitigate the effects of climate change on our farm sector.