The economic damage wrought on agriculture sector by the southwest monsoon made worse by typhoons Egay and Falcon is estimated at P4.66 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center.
The attached agency said that as of 5 p.m. Friday, the damage equal 158,995 metric tons (MT) of goods tended by 187,225 farmers on 200,456 hectares (ha) of affected land.
The agency said the damage done on rice crops amounted to P1.79 billion planted on 114,735 hectares of land, resulting to a production loss of 42,778 MT or 0.22 percent of the annual rice production target of 19.76 million MT.
Corn damage and losses amounted to P1.86 billion impacting an area 83,596 hectares wide or a production loss of 102,207 MT or 1.10 percent of the annual production target for corn of 9.30 million MT.
Damage on infrastructure was placed at P356.12 million, high value crops of another P314.11 million, fisheries at P175.39 million and livestock and poultry at P157.32 million.
The captured data were from the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen and Caraga.
Government assistance for distribution to affected farmers and fishers include P65.3 million worth of rice seeds and fertilizers; P94.7 million worth of corn seeds and pesticides; P39.6 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds; P62,000 worth of fingerlings; P5.9 million worth of fuel assistance to fisherfolks; and P1.9 million worth of repair and maintenance of damaged motorized boats.
The DA said a survival and recovery loan program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council of up to P25,000 payable over three years at zero interest has been activated and separate from P700 million in quick response fund to rehabilitate affected areas.
Various farm groups appeal for government aid to recover.
