DA: Aggie damage from 3 calamities reaches P2.6 B

MANILA, Philippines - Agriculture damage caused by Typhoon Labuyo, Tropical Storm Maring and the southwest monsoon has reached P2.6 billion with corn crops incurring the most damage, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported yesterday.

The farm damage report completed on Wednesday showed that the weather disturbances affected 203,261 metric tons (MT) of corn crops valued at P2.12 billion. This covered 98,997 hectares, of which 20,037 hectares have no chances of recovery.

In a briefing yesterday, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said despite the damage to corn crops, this year’s target production of eight million MT would not be affected because community seed banks have sufficient stocks.

“We have sufficient seeds for replacement cropping,” he said.

Damaged palay crops reached 12,461 MT valued at P484.48 million, covering 26,988 hectares, with 1,768 hectares having no chances of recovery.

National Rice Program coordinator Dante Delima said there is also sufficient seed buffer stock for replacement planting. The country intends to produce 20 million MT of palay this year.

Affected banana crops with a volume of 14,825 MT were valued at P130.73 million. Damaged cultivation areas totaled 1,025 hectares, of which 903 hectares may not recover.

Damage to high-value crops was valued at P7 million with a volume of 1,762 MT. Damaged cultivation areas reached 720 hectares, with 11 hectares having no chances of recovery.

Damage to fisheries and livestock was valued at P1.76 million and P4.69 million, respectively.

Regions affected by the weather disturbances are the Cordillera Administrative Region and Regions 1 (Ilocos region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), 4-A (Calabarzon), and 5 (Bicol region). 

Alcala said the government continues to provide help to affected farmers in the form of crop insurance, buffer seed stock, and equipment assistance.