Agriculture, the backbone of the nation’s food security, is facing a double whammy: it’s the biggest victim of climate change-related disasters, and a contributor to the very problem it suffers from.
A recent report by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) paints a stark picture of the sector’s vulnerability and the urgent need for adaptive and mitigation measures.
The PIDS study reveals that agriculture now accounts for a staggering 60 percent of the country’s disaster-related damages. From 2012 to 2022, adverse weather and climate events cost the sector P44 billion annually. With projections indicating an increase in catastrophic natural calamities and worsening climate-related disasters, the situation is only expected to intensify.
“Extreme weather events, such as super typhoons, are expected to become more frequent and intense, affecting new locations and occurring at different times due to climate change,” the report warns.
“This will result in more widespread and severe damages as stronger typhoons hit the country with greater regularity,” it says.
Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns are also on the horizon, with significant regional variations expected by 2050.
The effects are already being felt. Water availability, crop production, livestock, and fisheries are all impacted.
Farmers face delayed harvests, lower yields, poorer quality produce, increased pests and diseases, and livestock deaths, leading to reduced farm income. Fisheries, too, are at risk, with rising temperatures potentially slashing productivity by up to 2°C by 2050.
While the Philippines contributes less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it ranks as the most vulnerable country in the 2024 climate risk index due to its exposure to intense tropical cyclones and rising sea levels. Ironically, despite its small global share, the agricultural sector contributes 23 percent of the country’s GHG emissions, primarily from rice cultivation, livestock digestion, and waste management.
2-pronged approach
The PIDS report calls for a two-pronged approach: urgent implementation of both adaptive and mitigation measures to boost the sector’s resilience, sustainability, and productivity. Sustainable agriculture, the report argues, is crucial for balancing economic growth and environmental sustainability. The sector must adopt practices that increase productivity while minimizing its carbon footprint.
The study suggests several cost-effective mitigation technologies, including alternate wetting and drying for rice paddies to reduce methane emissions, biodigesters for better livestock manure management, and precision agriculture techniques to optimize resource use and minimize waste.
Climate adaptation measures, while not new, have become even more critical. These include ensuring the long-term sustainability of crops, livestock, and fisheries production. The report emphasizes that the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of proactive intervention, as climate change threatens not only agricultural production but also food security and livelihoods.
Improved GHG emissions estimates across sectors are also crucial for better-targeted policies and more efficient resource allocation for climate adaptation and mitigation.
The report further advocates for the inclusion of agriculture in the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, focusing on low-cost, long-term sustainable technologies that maintain the sector’s competitiveness and food security.
“Countries like the Philippines, which face both climate-related and non-climate disasters, must prioritize integrated strategies that combine adaptation, mitigation, and sustainability for a more cost-efficient and effective climate response,” the report says.
“Decision-makers must recognize that while sustainability measures may have high initial costs, they are crucial for building resilience and securing long-term climate and disaster preparedness,” it says.