El Nino costs US$213 million losses to Philippine agriculture

The agricultural losses led by this year's El Nino phenomenon in the Philippines is estimated at PHP9.58 billion (US$213 million) at the end of March, Philippine National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said on Tuesday (April 6).

Citing the latest National Disaster Coordinating Council report, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Augusto Santos said about 753,606 hectares of land had been affected, with an equivalent production loss of 685,485 tonnes.

A total of 12 regions are experiencing dry spell conditions that affect production of rice, corn, high-value commercial crops and livestock.

However, NEDA official Dennis Arroyo said agriculture makes up only 18% of the country's gross domestic product. Similarly, he added, the share of Mindanao in economic output is also 18%.