Habagat agri damage climbs to P27.28 million

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to the agriculture sector due to the southwest monsoon or habagat has climbed to P27.28 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

Latest data from the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center showed the flash floods caused by monsoon rains destroyed 1,303 hectares of agricultural land, with production loss of 928 metric tons (MT).

Farmers affected by habagat increased to 1,490 yesterday.

The monsoon brought strong rains, flash floods and mudslides in Banaue, Ifugao on July 7, destroying 120 hectares of rice fields, three hectares of corn fields and 78 hectares of high-value crops, data from the DA-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) showed.

On July 11, the DA-CAR reported that 83 heads of swine died in mudslides.

With the southwest monsoon affecting the western sections of the country, the DA said the Regional Field Office-Cordillera Administrative Region (RFO-CAR) will start distributing available seed buffer stocks to affected farmers.

The RFO-CAR’s latest report stated that about 11.9 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds amounting to P340,860 will be turned over to the Office of the Municipal Agriculture in Banaue.

The DA said heavy rain and flash floods were also experienced in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat from July 4 to 7.

The agency said agricultural damage was estimated at about P3.8 million, with all 99 rice farmers in the municipality affected.

The monsoon’s impact damaged 148 hectares of rice-producing areas, resulting in a production loss of 199.8 MT. – Rhodina Villanueva, Michael Punongbayan