DA: El Niño impact may be less than feared

Despite the strong El Niño affecting the country since September last year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is optimistic that only a small percentage decrease in production and yield will be felt.

From February 2015 to March 2016 about 313,356 hectares from combined rice and corn production areas were reportedly affected, which was significantly lower than the 917,053 hectares affected during the 2009-2010 dry spell, the DA said.