Karding damage, losses to agriculture breach P3 billion, DA says

Damage and losses to the agriculture sector due to Typhoon Karding (international name: Noru) have breached P3 billion as of Monday morning, based on the latest data available from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The latest estimates of the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DRRM) indicate a total value of production loss of P3.12 billion, up from P2.95 billion on Friday.

Typhoon Karding damaged 170,762 hectares of farm lands in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.

There were some 108,594 farmers and fisherfolk affected, with a combined volume of production loss of 158.117 metric tons (MT) covering rice, corn, cassava, abaca, high value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries.

Rice accounted for the biggest share, with P2.05 billion in losses after 163,162 hectares and 134,205 MT were hit.

This was followed by high value crops with P831.29 million, fisheries with P116.55 million, corn with P65.40 million, livestock and poultry with P12.86 million, cassava with P1.47 million, abaca with P118,350,000, and infrastructure with P26.30 million.

“The Department of Agriculture, though its regional field offices, is conducting assessment and validation of damage and losses brought by Super Typhoon Karding in the agri-fisheries sector,” the DA said.

The agency said it has assistance available for affected farmers and fishers, including P185.69 million worth of rice seeds, P23.16 million worth of corn seeds, and P13.55 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds.

It also has P2.45 million worth of animal heads, drugs, and biologics for livestock and poultry; and P554,000 worth of fingerlings and fishing paraphernalia from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for affected fisherfolk.

The DA said it also has P500 million worth of quick response fund for the rehabilitation of affected areas, along with more mobile Kadiwa centers set to be rolled out in Karding-hit areas.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also said it has allocated P1.1 billion for its disaster response and assistance to those hit by Typhoon Karding.

Karding officially left the Philippine Area of Responsibility last Monday, causing damage in several areas in Luzon and leaving 12 dead and 1,072,282 individuals individuals affected according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's situational report on Monday. —KG, GMA News