DA prepares bigger food buffer amid Super El Niño threat

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing a bigger food buffer to cushion the impact of a potentially strong El Niño, with the agency warning that overall agricultural production could still decline. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government is expanding rice storage capacity and opening more cold storage facilities as it prepares for possible supply disruptions. “The National Food Authority now has 365 active warehouses, up from around 300, after renting an additional 165 facilities. The expanded storage network, including silos and other warehouses, is expected to help the country ride out potential supply disruptions,” the DA said in a statement. The department also said new cold storage facilities were being opened to increase the country's capacity to extend the shelf life of meat and vegetables. Cloud-seeding operations are also underway in drought-affected areas such as Isabela and Negros, Tiu Laurel said. He added that the DA would conduct ...