‘2,840 farmers, 4,142 hectares hit by El Niño in Kalinga; figures may rise’ - Provincial Agriculturist Nancy Aowat

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — A total of 2,840 farmers in Kalinga have been affected by the ongoing El Niño, with an estimated 4,142.13 hectares of rice, corn and high-value crops projected to be damaged, according to the Provincial Agriculture Office.

Provincial Agriculturist Nancy O. Aowat reported the figures during the Provincial Government of Kalinga’s Kapehan on October 5, warning that both the number of affected farmers and the extent of agricultural damage could still increase as dry conditions persist.

Aowat said the 2,840 affected farmers were identified through monitoring and validation conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region, the provincial government and municipal agriculture offices as of June 2026.

“Last June, the technical working group from DA-CAR and the province, including the municipal agricultural offices went for monitoring and validation of the affected areas… So we have 2,840 farmers affected. This is as June 2026, so, maaari po itong tumaas,” Aowat said.

The projected agricultural damage covers 4,142.13 hectares, while potential production losses have reached 5,842.74 metric tons.

“For the area damage, it is projected to be 4,142.13 ha for rice, corn, and high-value crops. Puwede ring tumaas ito. And for the production loss, that is 5,842.74 MT and may go higher kung magtutuloy-tuloy itong effect ng El Niño,” she said.

Aowat said some farmers are delaying planting activities while monitoring water availability and the continuing effects of El Niño.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported in its September 23 advisory that a Strong El Niño was active and expected to intensify into a Very Strong El Niño between September and December 2026 and persist through the first half of 2027.

For Kalinga, Aowat said below-normal rainfall is expected in October, followed by a dry spell from November to December and dry-season conditions from January to March 2027.

The prolonged dry conditions are also adding pressure on farmers already dealing with low palay prices, making the decision to plant another crop more difficult as water availability becomes uncertain.

To strengthen the province’s response, Governor James S. Edduba directed the Provincial Agriculture Office to convene municipal agriculture offices, including the Tabuk City Agriculture Office, together with the National Irrigation Administration and irrigators’ associations.

“It will help if you conduct a meeting of all municipal agriculture office including the city of Tabuk tapno mainform da and even NIA, and irrigators association,” Edduba said.

Available interventions include solar-powered irrigation systems, pump engine sets, seeds under rehabilitation programs, small water impounding projects, cisterns and small farm reservoirs.

The Provincial Agriculture Office will continue monitoring affected farmers and agricultural areas and coordinate with concerned agencies as the dry conditions are expected to continue into 2027.