Agri damage from Habagat, typhoons hits P2.84-B

The agricultural sector has incurred P2.84 billion in damage and losses due to the onslaught of the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday. Latest assessments by regional offices showed that the agricultural damages were recorded in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas. There were 72,803 farmers affected and 64,234 hectares of agricultural areas destroyed. The weather disturbances have also caused 63,921 metric tons of volume of production losses in agricultural commodities. Of the total damage and losses recorded, rice accounted for the biggest share at P1.42 billion. It was followed by high-value crops with P761.43 million in losses. Among the affected crops are upland and lowland vegetables, spices, legumes, avocado, calamansi, citrus, durian, guyabano, honeydew, lanzones, mangosteen, melon, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple, rambutan, strawberry, watermelon, banana, mango, rootcrops, commercial crops, and ornamental crops. Corn also suffered P103.04 million in losses. Cassava production also sustained P24.74 million in losses. Livestock, including chickens, fighting cock, swine, cattle, carabaos, goats, sheeps, ducks, rabbits, horses, quails, and turkeys, suffered P18.94 million in losses. Irrigation facilities and farm structures also sustained damage amounting to P68.65 million and P27.45 million, respectively. Machineries and equipment also posted damage amounting to P3.64 million. Meanwhile, fisheries and aquatic resources sustained P412.84 million in losses. Among the affected fish produce are milkfish, tilapia, mangrove, crab, oyster, giant freshwater prawn, catfish, sugpo, and fingerlings. Affected farmers may avail themselves of P609.79 million worth of agricultural inputs like rice, corn, and vegetable seeds. They may also avail themselves of loans of up to P25,000 under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC). The DA also said the National Food Authority will also distribute 9,260 bags of palay-milled rice to affected local government units in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Mimaropa. —VAL, GMA News