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Children help out as farmers tend to their crop of cassava in Baras, Rizal on July 4, 2024. Agriculture employs around a quarter of the 49.7 Filipino labor force as of November according to the Philippine Statistics Authority and contributed almost 9 percent of the GDP last year. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Farms

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- The Department of Agriculture on Friday said a looming El Niño could increase fuel demand for farmers and threaten food production amid energy crisis threats brought by tensions in the Middle East.</p><p>The warning comes after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said El Niño, which brings reduced rainfall and dry conditions in the country, could emerge as early as June.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/3/2/el-nino-may-return-in-2026-and-make-planet-even-hotter-1451" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">El Nino may return in 2026 and make planet even hotter</a></div><p>Agriculture Undersecretary Asis Perez said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon that El Niño may increase irrigation use and lead to higher fuel demand.</p><p>“Kasi with the El Niño, kailangan mong gumamit ngayon ng pump. And again, that will require fuel,” Perez said.</p><p> “The incoming El Niño, which is projected to be a strong one… medyo nakikita namin if we do business as usual talagang malaking impact sa agricultural production natin,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/8/agri-chief-eyes-help-for-benguet-vegetable-farmers-amid-fuel-price-spike-1954" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Agri chief eyes help for Benguet vegetable farmers amid fuel price spike</a></div><p>Perez said that although the country’s food supply remains stable as of now, rising fuel prices could still significantly affect farm operations, which are now heavily mechanized and dependent on fuel.</p><p>He added that higher fertilizer costs are also forcing farmers to reduce usage or scale back the land they cultivate, which may lead to supply shortages if left unaddressed.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/8/mideast-conflict-could-cut-ph-rice-production-by-half-agri-official-1625" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mideast conflict could cut PH rice production by half — Agri official</a></div><p>“Yung ating planting season will start around May, June and end of July. So ngayon pa lang may ginagawa na tayo to address those possible challenges that we can now foresee,” Perez said.</p><p>“Outside the challenge, may mga ilang nanamantala, so we should be able to monitor that… we continue to monitor supply… production costs and logistics,” he added.</p><p>Fuel subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk and increased funding support are some of the measures being explored by the agency, according to Perez.</p><p>To combat potential job losses in the agriculture sector, the DA said it is also coordinating with other agencies to provide production-based support instead of direct aid.</p><p>“Sa halip na magbibigay tayo ng pondo… gamitin natin pang sweldo so that they can continue producing,” he said.</p><p>Perez said the agency continues to aim for self-sufficiency and efficiency in the agricultural value chain to minimize the impact of global crises.</p><p>&quot;And that is the goal of the department, to go beyond security. You have to have more so that you can export,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZaKj2ez9gBg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Agriculture on Friday said a looming El Niño could increase fuel demand for farmers and threaten food production.</p>

The Department of Agriculture on Friday said a looming El Niño could increase fuel demand for farmers and threaten food production.

Govt readies aid as El Niño expected to raise agriculture costs

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Govt readies aid as El Niño expected to raise agriculture costs

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 10, 2026 03:29 PM PHT

Read More:

El Nino

agriculture

weather

fuel crisis

water

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