DA: Agri damage due to recent tropical cyclones, Habagat reaches P600M

Damage and losses to the country’s agricultural sector due to the onslaught of tropical cyclones Ferdie, Gener, Helen, and the enhanced southwest monsoon have reached over P600 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. 

Data showed that the value of production loss caused by the recent weather disturbances amounted to P600.83 million, or equivalent to 27, 427 metric tons (MT) of volume loss across 11,696 hectares of agricultural land.

Among the destroyed agricultural products, rice incurred the most damage with value loss amounting to P562.75 million or a volume loss of 26,072 MT. 

It was followed by corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry with total value loss of P19.04 million, P18.22 million, and P819,200, respectively.

Moreover, the DA said that 11,170 farmers were also affected due to the combined effects of recent tropical cyclones that hit the country. 

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa also said the agricultural areas most affected were in Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Antique, and Zamboanga Peninsula. 

The department has already prepared seeds for crops to help farmers as part of its assistance program. 

“Mayroon tayong tinatawag na Quick Response Fund at naka-preposition din 'yung ating mga binhi ng palay, mais, at mga gulay. Once ready na sila magtanim, pwede sila magtanim for quick turnaround,” said De Mesa in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Friday.  

(We have a Quick Response Fund and we have already prepositioned the seeds for rice, corn, and vegetables. They can use these once they are ready to plant again.) 

Other assistance from the DA include Survival and Recovery Loan Program with a loanable amount of up to P25,000, and funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.—AOL, GMA Integrated News