Drought damage estimated at P2.8 billion

MANILA, Philippines - Some P2.84 billion worth of crops have been damaged by a prevailing drought in Luzon and the Visayas, according to a report dated Feb. 16 by the Department of Agriculture’s Central Action Center (DACAC).

The DACAC report stated that crops planted in 10,533 hectares have zero chance of recovery, while those planted in another 147,633 hectares can still recover from the dry spell.

A total of 158,166 hectares of affected farmland with 201,237 metric tons (MT) of assorted crops valued at P2.84 billion have been damaged by the drought this early, the DACAC said.

Worst hit was Isabela, which has suffered palay losses amounting to P1.85 billion and corn losses valued at P1.85 billion.

The damaged palay fields represent 3.39 percent of the one-million hectares for harvesting over the January-March period, while the affected crops represent 1.5 percent of the production forecast of 3.79 million MT for the quarter.

The damaged cornfields make up 18.21 percent of 673,995 hectares to be harvested and the volume is 7.27 percent of the production estimate of 1.99 million MT for the January-March period.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is allotting an initial P882.18 million for the accelerated implementation of mitigation measures for farmers and fisherfolk in 14 provinces in Luzon and the Visayas where the dry spell is expected to last till July this year.

According to Agriculture Undersecretary Joel Rudinas, mitigation measures are being initiated or are set for implementation by various agencies attached to the DA.

The mitigation measures range from cloudseeding to the provision of shallow tube wells (STWs) and open source pump irrigation systems to avert a possible drought-triggered outbreak of pests and diseases.

The 14 affected provinces are Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino in Northern Luzon; Bulacan and Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon; Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon in the MIMAROPA area or Region 4-B; Masbate in Bicol; and Antique, Guimaras and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas.