Agriculture damage and losses due to the southwest monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante and Emong, have reached P2.34 billion, latest data validated by the Department of Agriculture showed.
The damage affected 74,895 farmers in 71,958 hectares and involved the loss of 53,356 metric tons (MT) of agricultural produce and inputs, the Department’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center indicated in its 9 a.m. advisory, on Monday, July 28.
The DA said 70.39 percent or 50,648 of the affected fields could still recover but agricultural produce and inputs in the remaining 29.61 percent or 21,310 hectares were deemed lost and had no chance of recovery.
Palay losses have reached 40,333 MT, worth P1.27 billion, on 67,692 hectares, the DA said.
A total of 2,399 fisherfolk incurred damage to, or losses of P516.57 million worth of tilapia, siganid, catfish, malaga, prawns, mudcrab, seaweed, milkfish fingerlings, motorized boats, wooden boats, cages, fyke nets, oyster rafts and fishpond dikes, the DA reported.
The DA has so far tallied losses of high value crops at 9,574 MT of lowland and upland vegetables, spices, legumes, watermelon, banana, pineapple, papaya and root crops, worth P421.95 million on 2,013 hectares.
Corn damage or losses have reached 3,180 MT, worth P83.44 million, on 2,209 hectares, the DA confirmed.
Livestock and poultry raisers either incurred damage to, or lost 9,404 chickens, pigs, cattle, carabaos, goats, sheep, ducks, horses, turkeys, quails and game fowls, worth P16.27 million, the DA validated.
Meanwhile, a total of 245 MT of cassava worth P3.71 million, on 45 hectares, have been either damaged or lost, the DA said.
Additionally, the DA has so far tallied P21.72 million worth of damage to irrigation systems; P128,000-loss of farm machinery and equipment; and P940,000-damage to farm infrastructure.
The DA said the validated data came from the Cordillera Administrative Region, National Capital Region, and the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Socckskargen.
The DA said the data on damage and losses will further rise in the ongoing field assessment and validation by the DRRMOC.
The DA said it has so far distributed P653.01 million worth of agricultural inputs such as seeds, seedlings, pesticides, forage seeds, free range chicken, and fingerlings, to affected farmers.
The agency added the National Food Authority has delivered 43,940 bags of rice to the local governments of Palawan, Polangui and Pangasinan; the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Albay; and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office of Central Luzon for distribution to displaced families.
