Weather & Science
Storm Barrage Threatens Philippine Growth After Crops Flattened
- Rice imports may increase to a record 4.5 million tons in 2024
- Around 20 tropical cyclones develop off archipelago each year
Nearly 600,000 tons of rough rice crops have been ruined by storms this year, according to the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture’s disaster management center.
Photographer: John Dimain/AFP/Getty Images
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Six powerful storms late in the season that ravaged crops and drenched vast areas of the Philippines have put the nation on track for record rice imports and raised concerns over elevated food inflation.
From the end of October to mid-November, the storms repeatedly dumped heavy rain over northern regions grappling with widespread flooding and saturated soil that couldn’t absorb any more water. The onslaught caused at least $131 million of crop losses, with rice bearing the brunt of the damage.