CV crops losses due to El Nin?o at P1.7B

CEBU, Philippines — The onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon in Central Visayas resulted in significant devastation, which caused losses of approximately P1.7 billion in crops and livestock, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA)-7.

DA-7 reported that the production loss of high-value crops, including vegetables, spices, and fruits, has reached P1.5 billion.

Additionally, production damage of rice is at P139 million; corn, P105 million; and livestock, P1.2 million. These figures are based on submissions from Region VII local government units.

Meanwhile, the DA-7, in response to recent concerns, announced that it will conduct a thorough investigation into the reported shortages of garlic and other vegetables at the Carbon Public Market.

The shortage has caused significant disruption for both consumers and vendors, and raised questions about supply chain issues and production deficits.

To address this concern, DA-7 Officer-in-Charge Cirilo Namoc said they would implement “post-harvest and logistics support” activities, wherein his office would coordinate local production schedules and supply chain activities to monitor the supply, importation, and pricing of key agricultural goods.

"Sayod man ta kung pananglitan dili kaayu maayo atong post-harvest system, apektado gyud atong mga produkto. Ang gusto ni (DA) Secretary (Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr.) kay mag-[uban] ni siya—post-harvest support ug logistics. Kay gumikan sa atong post structure area, dapat insakto ang atoang mga infrastructure padong adto sa merkado," he said.

Also, with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s goal of making the country rice self-sufficient by 2028, Namoc said Central Visayas is still at a state of 22 percent.

In his 2022 inaugural speech, the president vowed to make food security his top priority, aside from pledging during the campaign to make rice affordable at P20 per kilo.

Namoc said there is still no assurance this can be fully done, but it will definitely be achieved soon through their strategy to improve rice production in Central Visayas.

DA-7 Namoc stated that the strategies included are the increase of rice production area, construction of irrigation facilities, mechanization, modernization, and support for farmers.

"Kinahanglan atong padak-an atoang production area... ato sad paningkamotan na maka-construct ta og irrigation facilities unya kay karon panahona dili man ka pwede magconstruct og facilities og wala kay source so ato sang tan awn ang maong lugar og naa bay source ug irrigation para makaconstruct gyud tag irrigation facilities," he said.

With the help of municipal agriculture technicians, as well as provincial technicians, Namoc urged farmers, private sectors, and local government units to converge, collaborate, and coordinate with the DA to attain their main objective, such as increasing production and farmers' income. — Donna Rose Egos, CNU Intern/RHM (FREEMAN)