DA: Agri losses due to Goring, Hanna, 'habagat' reach P1.76-B

MANILA – Bad weather due to Typhoons Goring and Hanna and the southwest monsoon (habagat) caused P1.76 billion worth of damage to agriculture, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Wednesday.

The amount of damage was recorded in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region and Western Visayas, with the total volume of production loss estimated at 77,476 metric tons (MT) from 68,476 hectares of agricultural areas, the DA said in its final bulletin.

According to the report, 62,060 farmers and fisherfolk were affected.

The affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries while damage to irrigation systems and farm facilities was also recorded.

The report noted that damage and losses to rice amounted to P1.45 billion, with affected areas at 56,288 hectares and volume of production loss at 65,618 MT or 0.31 percent of the total annual production target volume for rice at 20.84 million MT.

Meanwhile, damage and losses to corn amounted to P178.71 million, with affected areas at 11,725 hectares and volume of production loss at 9,983 MT or 0.11 percent of the total annual production target volume for corn at 9.30 million MT.

Meanwhile, the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center also reported that assistance is available for distribution to affected farmers and fisherfolk in Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon and Mimaropa, such as P64.99 million worth of rice seeds, P31.75 million worth of corn seeds and P3.83 million worth of high-value crops.

Other forms of assistance include P50,000 worth of drugs and biologics; the Survival and Recovery Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council with a loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest; and the Quick Response Fund for the rehabilitation of affected areas. (PNA)