Even as heavy rains and typhoons continue to drench parts of the country, the Department of Agriculture has ramped up its preparations for an El Niño episode late this year that is expected to last until April next year.

This is based on updates from different DA and National Irrigation Administration, or NIA, offices during a series of meetings held from 10 to 12 October to check on their preparations for the cropping period.

The DA uses the El Niño risk maps prepared by PhilRice and the PAGASA rainfall forecast to plan its activities and provide farmer advisories.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian said the DA is working closely with the NIA to optimize production in irrigated areas, where El Niño is said to bring higher yields because of intense solar radiation.

500K ha. irrigated

Sebastian said irrigation covers about a million hectares. Hybrid seeds, fertilizers, and other interventions would be deployed in areas with sufficient irrigation.

In areas where the predicted rainfall could be below what is required for rice production, the DA said it would work closely with farmer clusters to be ready with supplemental water sources like groundwater.

"Farmers in these areas are also encouraged to plant early so that by January and February, when El Niño's impact starts to be felt, they are already harvesting their crops," the DA official said.