Shear line, monsoon damage to agriculture reaches P67.68 million

MANILA, Philippines — The amount of damage caused by the shear line, northeast monsoon or amihan and the intertropical convergence zone or ITCZ to the agriculture sector has reached P67.68 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported yesterday.

According to the DA Operations Center, the amount comprises the damage to rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry in the Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao and Soccsksargen regions.

“The shear line has been affecting the country since Nov. 27, 2024, bringing moderate to heavy, with at times intense, rainfall across Luzon, Western and Eastern Visayas. Along with the shear line, other weather systems such as the ITCZ and northeast monsoon are also affecting the country,” the DA said.

Citing reports from various regional field offices, the DA Operations Center said the damage covered 3,692 hectares of agricultural areas, with a volume of production loss of 472 metric tons and affecting at least 1,887 farmers.

The bulk of the damage, or about 86 percent, was from rice production with a total of P58.44 million. The reported damage covers 3,487 hectares with an estimated production loss of 367 MT.

Other damage was recorded in livestock and poultry (P4.12 million), high-value crops (P2.87 million) and corn (P2.23 million).

The DA pegged the production loss in high-value crops at 78 MT, affecting 65 hectares. It also said the production loss for corn was at 27 MT, covering 140 hectares.

Damage and losses to the agriculture sector are expected to go higher as the DA continues with its assessment in areas affected by the weather systems.