Local agriculture has so far lost P1.34 million worth of produce and inputs due to the combined effects of Typhoon Bising and the southwest monsoon, an agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DRROMC) said in an advisory as of 12 noon, Monday, the total cost of damage affected 90 farmers in 96 hectares, and involved the loss of 38 metric tons (MT) of produce.
Bulk of the damage, at P1.25 million, was in 93 hectares of rice, where 37 MT of palay were lost.
A metric ton of corn worth P85,000 in three hectares, and P1,000 worth of high value crops in 0.1 ha of lowland vegetables, were also lost.
The DA said the latest data came from Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Western Visayas, and were expected to rise further in its ongoing field assessment and validations.
The DA’s DRROMC is tasked with monitoring the damage and losses brought by weather systems in the agriculture and fishery sector; coordinating with concerned government offices on the impact of the weather systems and on available resources for interventions and assistance; and monitoring public markets for changes in the prices of agricultural commodities.
The DA said it has started providing assistance including agricultural inputs such as rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, and has tapped the Quick Response Fund for the rehabilitation and recovery of affected areas.
The DA added that up to P25,000 in loanable amounts from the Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, payable in three years at zero interest, will be given to affected farmers. Insured and affected farmers will also be indemnified by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.
