THE agriculture sector has sustained damage worth P67.68 million from the effects of the prevailing weather systems in the country during the transition into the new year, the latest data from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center showed.
The agency said in its advisory that as of 9 am on Monday, damage was equivalent to 472 metric tons (MT) of goods tended by 1,887 farmers in 3,692 hectares (ha) of the affected areas.
Select areas in the regions of Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao and Soccsksargen from December 26, 2024 to January 13, 2025 have been affected by the combined effects of the shear line, the intertropical convergence zone, and the northeast monsoon.
A shear line is a narrow zone where an abrupt change in the horizontal wind component occurs that may result in thunderstorms.
The agency said that damage and losses in rice amounted to P58.44 million with affected area at 3,487 ha and volume of production loss at 367 MT while damage and losses for corn amounted to P2.23 million with affected area at 140 ha and volume of production loss at 27.14 MT.
Losses in rice amounted to P58.44 million with affected area at 3,487 ha and production loss is at 367 MT.
Damage to corn amounted to P2.23 million with affected area at 140 ha and volume of production loss at 27.14 MT.
Other sectors that suffered damage include P4.12 million from livestock and poultry equivalent to 1,685 heads of chicken, swine, cattle, carabao, goat, duck, horse and turkey.
Damage to high value crops was at P2.87 million million affecting 78 MT from 65 ha of land as well as P20,000 in infrastructure, machineries and equipment.
The agency said that regional offices in the affected areas are monitoring actual weather situations and field conditions to assess damage and losses brought by
the combined weather systems, as well as available resources for interventions and assistance; and price monitoring for possible changes in the prices of agricultural commodities.
Assistant Agriculture Secretary Arnel de Mesa assured the public that the damage is still considered “minimal” and has no major effects on the prices of agricultural goods.
