DA-6 preps backup crops, cloud seeding as El Niño looms

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Agriculture-Western Visayas (DA-6) is preparing alternative crops, seed buffers, irrigation projects, and cloud-seeding operations as the region braces for a stronger El Niño.

DA-6 Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia said rice remains a major concern because it requires large amounts of water.

The agency is identifying areas suited for rice production and encouraging farmers in more difficult areas to shift to other crops, he said.

“[We will supply] good varieties, along with complete assistance, as well as prioritizing the placement of model farms. We frequently mention rice because it will be the most affected by El Niño, because we know that it has the largest need for water,” Arpia told reporters on Monday.

He said more local government units and farmers had expressed interest in turning to corn when conditions no longer allow rice production to continue.

The DA has also carried out the first phase of its cloud-seeding operations, and the next phase is underway, subject to the availability of seedable clouds and suitable technical conditions.

Arpia said the agency is also looking to expand irrigation capacity, including completing the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project’s irrigation system and additional projects being pursued by the National Irrigation Administration.

“The threat of El Niño, strong or weak, is not just now. The threat of drought has always been there,” he said, noting that some parts of Western Visayas can experience drought even during the rainy season.

The DA has prepared two types of buffer stocks: food for consumers and seeds for farmers affected by adverse weather conditions.

Arpia said seed support would cover rice and corn, as well as high-value crops such as mung beans in areas where water remains available for shorter-cycle crops.

The agency is also counting on increased government procurement and storage capacity to help maintain food stocks in Western Visayas.

Arpia said the National Food Authority is expected to increase its purchases as more large storage facilities become available, including one in Dumangas and two others in Iloilo.

“With the help of our private sector also, we could be assured that while there are problems or we are worried about El Niño, the food security of Western Visayas is very much okay,” Arpia said.

For farmers affected by disasters, Arpia highlighted the DA’s primary mandate of technical support. He said eligible farmers may receive crop insurance assistance from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, an agency attached to the DA.

He cited farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, the government’s database of farmers, farm workers, and fisherfolk.

Arpia said the agency is continuing efforts to support livestock producers, including measures addressing African swine fever, feed costs, village-type feed mills, and slaughterhouse capacity.

He said improved logistics and storage would give both the private sector and government more options to buy livestock during periods of high supply and store meat for later use.

The DA is also reviewing the rollout of its fuel subsidy to make distribution easier, particularly for farmers using machinery and facilities that require fuel, Arpia said.

The measures come as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said a strong El Niño is active in the tropical Pacific and is expected to intensify into a very strong event between September and December 2026. It is expected to persist through the first half of 2027.

PAGASA said the phenomenon increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall, dry spells, and drought in parts of the country.

El Niño is a climate pattern marked by above-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which in the Philippines often translates to reduced rainfall.

The DA’s central office has likewise identified crop diversification, cloud seeding, solar-powered irrigation, and adjustments to planting schedules among its measures for a potentially severe El Niño episode.