Name: Desiree Mae C.

Guindulman Section: NOQRS1

Instructor: Engr. Art M. Dalman Course & Year: BSABE IV

Effects of Climate Change in Agricultural Production Systems in

Global and Philippine Setting

Agriculture is important in the Philippine economy and the livelihood of the

people, as well as in other part of the world. According to Philippines is one of the top

10 producers of rice and it is considered a staple food in the country, making it one of

the most important agricultural crops with crops like rice, coconut and sugar

dominating the production of crops and exports.

Climate Change refers to significant changes in global temperature,

precipitation, wind patterns and other measures of climate that occur over several

decades or longer. Climate change is very likely to have an impact on food security on

a global, regional, and local level. The Philippines is highly vulnerable to the impacts

of climate change, including sea level rise, increased frequency of extreme weather

events, rising temperatures, and extreme rainfall. Climate change affects farming in a

number of ways, including through changes in average temperatures, rainfall, and

climate extremes (e.g. heat waves, freezes, heavy downpours, tornadoes, tropical

cyclones and floods), changes in pests and diseases, changes in atmospheric carbon

dioxide and ground-level ozone concentrations, changes in the nutritional quality of

some foods and changes in sea level. Environmental factors play the biggest role in

agriculture production because they effect the crop, including climate, soil, water and

properties.

Climate change has the ability to disrupt food availability, reduce access to

food, and degrade food quality. Which is why it is alarming in the agriculture sector

and especially the farmers in this matter. Most livelihood in the Philippines are
Filipino farmers who labor in the fields of crop production, fisheries and livestock to

produce food, bear the greatest brunt of food insecurity. “Due to climate change, crop

yields are expected to decline by 25 per cent in tropical countries like the Philippines.

Catches of main fish species are also expected to decline by 40 per cent,” according to

Jose Manual Fernandez the representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture

Organization during the 5th Farm Tourism Convention in Iloilo City, Philippines.

There are two seasons we experience in the Philippines the wet and dry season. The

dry season is normally from November to May, which are considered the warmest

time of the year, while the wet season is from June to October. Farmers rely on the

consistency of the said pattern to know the optimum time to plant in order to achieve

the greatest harvest. As a result of climate change, local weather patterns have

changed significantly, making it increasingly more difficult for farmers to know when

to plant their crops. Farmer experience the problems like prolonged heat results to the

proliferation of pests, destroying their crops and if there’s also too much rain

drowning their plants. Fisheries on the other hand, will be affected by changes in

water temperature that make waters more hospitable to invasive species and shift the

ranges or lifecycle timing of certain fish species.

Climate change disrupts food availability, access to food and food quality

through the increased variability of weather. It is reducing crop yields, the nutritional

quality of major cereals, and lowering livestock productivity. Substantial investments

in adaptation will be required to maintain current yields and to achieve production

and food quality increases to meet demand (World Food Programme, 2021). Globally,

climate change has adverse impacts on crop yields. These yield changes result in

reduced supply of crop and livestock commodities, higher world commodity prices,

and reduced food consumption. Climate change is likely to contribute substantially to

food insecurity in the future, by increasing food prices, and reducing food production.
Water required for food production may become scarcer due to increased crop water

use and drought. These rising prices forced growing numbers of local people into

poverty, providing a sobering demonstration of how the influence of climate change

can result in food insecurity.

Effects of global warming on agriculture are loss of biodiversity/fragile

environments, loss of fertile coastal lands caused by rising sea levels, more

unpredictable farming conditions, longer growing seasons in cool areas, increase in

incidence of pests and diseases to the animals, changes in distribution and quantities

of fish and sea foods. In result of this weather patterns that create great impact on

agricultural production that it is forcing farmers to adopt new agricultural practices

in response to these altered conditions.

Climate change is happening now. Evidences and scenarios are seen

everywhere and experience by every individual. It is due to human activities such as

the burning of fossil fuels and land use change. It a challenge to people and will

continue to do so in the future if we don’t act now. The country faces grave challenges

in the form of threats to its environment, industries, and the lives and livelihoods of

its people. Presently, some adaptation is taking place, but we need to consider a more

active adaptation planning to ensure sustainable development. Since, it is a

worldwide problem both the Filipino government and governments abroad will need

to coordinate efforts to take action in climate crisis through the reduction of emissions

and the more promotion of renewable energy sources.

The best we can do as individuals is to educate ourselves on how best to face

these challenges and mitigate the risk. The little help can we do as individuals is that

of we let our ourselves equip with knowledge of the science behind climate change

and its effects on people and the environment, we can take steps toward positive

change, and influence others to do the same thing.

References

E. B. (n.d.). Climate change will impact Philippines’ ability to feed its people |

News | Eco-Business | Asia Pacific. Eco-Business. Retrieved September 27,

2022, from https://www.eco-business.com/news/climate-change-will-impact-

philippines-ability-to-feed-its-people/

World Food Programme. (2021, November 12). WFP Study Provides First-Ever Look

at the Links between Climate Change and Food Security in the Philippines |

World Food Programme. Retrieved September 27, 2022, from

https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-study-provides-first-ever-look-links-

between-climate-change-and-food-security-philippines