The country’s rice production may decline by up to 75 percent by 2100 because of global warming and Filipinos will have to settle for meals with little or no rice unless the government

aggressively implements climate change adaptation programs, Sen. Loren Legarda warned on Friday.

Citing a 2009 study by the Asian Development Bank, Legarda said that with the lack of climate change adaptation programs in place, rice yield in the Philippines could decline by 75 percent in 2100 or 87 years from now.

Such scenario, Legarda said, is possible because natural calamities, such as typhoons, floods and droughts, already rendered the country 82.4 percent loss in rice production from 1970 to 1990.

“Filipinos are rice-loving citizens because that’s our staple food. Some of our citizens can live with almost any dish as long as they pair it with rice,” Legarda said.

Unfortunately, she said that rice production in the country is threatened by the warming climate and if Filipinos want to continue enjoying eating rice, everybody must pitch in to address the risks brought by climate change and the threat of further rise in global temperature.

Legarda said that there is a need to fast-track the recovery of the agriculture sector in order to maintain the country’s food supply and avert escalation of prices of basic commodities.

She added that the country’s agricultural adaptation program must ensure more investments in agricultural research and infrastructure, improved water governance and land use policies.

The lawmaker also mentioned the need for better forecasting tools and early warning systems, as well as, strengthened extension system that will assist farmers to achieve economic diversification and access to credit and crop insurance to make significant improvements in the country’s food security goals.

President Benigno Aquino 3rd has declared 2013 as the National Year of Rice, and Legarda noted that government efforts to achieve rice sufficiency should include programs that would address the agriculture sector’s vulnerability to the changing climate.

“The unusual weather patterns we have been experiencing are bringing about a decrease in production of rice and several essential crops and with the absence of robust adaptation strategies, climate change will further imperil our food security,” Legarda said.

She cited the devastation brought by typhoons Pablo (Bopha) and Quinta (Wukong) in the country last December, wherein estimated damages to agriculture were at P26.5 billion and P146.8-million, respectively.

“We must not wait for the World Bank prediction of a 4 degrees celsius temperature to happen before we begin to act, because by that time, it will already be too late,” she added.