Philippine agricultural sector faces severe challenges as El Niño threatens crop production nationwide. Farmers express concerns about government preparedness, warning that rice harvests could decline by approximately 700,000 tonnes due to water scarcity affecting irrigation systems. The situation mirrors the devastating 1997-98 drought that caused significant economic losses. Agricultural experts emphasize urgent need for infrastructure improvements and contingency planning to mitigate food security risks.

Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.