Agriculture Dep’t: Agaton’s damage to agriculture now at P2.3B

Damage sustained by agriculture sector due to the onslaught of Agaton rises further to 2.3 billion as of Wednesday. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/qAq0FErwRE

— Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) April 20, 2022

The value of agricultural production lost following the onslaught of Tropical Depression Agaton in the Visayas and Mindanao has risen further to P2.3 billion as of Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

In its typhoon bulletin as of 12 noon, April 20, the DA said the tropical depression affected 54,013 farmers and fishers, with volume of production loss at 70,064 metric tons (MT) and 25,632 hectares of agricultural areas in the Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen and Caraga.

The latest damage to agriculture tally is higher than the P1.4 billion recorded as of Tuesday.

“The increase in overall damage and losses is due to additional reports on rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and fisheries in Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen and Caraga; and new reports on rice, corn, high value crops, and agricultural infrastructures from [the] Bicol [Region] and Davao Region,” the DA said.

The Agriculture Department said affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock, and fisheries.

“Damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructures. These values are subject to validation,” it said.

In terms of value loss, rice is the most affected commodity with P947.3 million worth of produce wiped out in 23,208 hectares of land and volume loss of 56,095 MT.

Fisheries followed with P778.6 million worth of fisheries produce, fishing boats, gears, and engines lost and 2,585 fishermen affected.

High-value crops, particularly vegetables, cacao, and fruits, incurred losses amounting to P241.8 million with volume loss of 12,080 MT and 1,133 hectares of land destroyed.

Corn sustained losses of P53.2 million, a volume loss of 1,889 MT, and 1,291 hectares of crops wiped out.

Livestock and poultry’s damage and losses amounted to P37.5 million, with 71,893 heads of chickens, swine, carabaos, ducks, goats, horses, and turkeys killed.

Irrigation and agri-facilities, particularly communal irrigation system, riprap, and irrigation canal, also sustained P203.3 million worth of damage.

The DA said it is conducting assessment of damage and losses brought by Agaton in the agri-fisheries sector through its regional field offices.

It is also continuously coordinating with concerned national government agencies, local government units and other disaster risk reduction and management-related offices for the impact of the tropical depression, as well as available resources for interventions and assistance.

The agency noted that at least P715.47-million of readily-available assistance will be provided to farmers and fisherfolk affected, broken down as follows:

• P500 million worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas
• P100 million under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) for Western Visayas
• P80.16 million worth of rice seeds, P24.33 million worth of corn seeds, P10.85 million worth of assorted vegetables
• P130,000 worth of animal stocks, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry from RFO X and XIII
• Available funds from Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers.

— RSJ, GMA News