Agriculture damage and losses due to the southwest monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante and Emong, have reached P1.84 billion, according to the latest validated data from the Department of Agriculture.
The total damage affected 59,749 affected farmers in 55,181 hectares (ha) and involved the loss of 43,689 metric tons (MT) of agricultural produce, the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center said in its 9 am advisory on Sunday (July 27).
The DA said 73.30 percent or 40,445 hectares could still recover while agriculture produce and inputs in 26.71 percent or 14,736 hectares were deemed lost without any chance of recovery.
Palay damage or losses have reached 35,371 metric tons, worth P990.34 million, on 52,210 hectares, the DA said.
A total of 2,399 fisherfolk or producers in the fisheries and aquatic resources sector have either incurred damage or losses reaching P516.57 million worth of tilapia, siganid, catfish, malaga, prawns, mudcrab, seaweed, milkfish fingerlings, motorized boat, wooden boat, cage, fyke net, oyster raft and fishpond dike, the DA reported.
Meanwhile, 5,570 MT of high value crops worth P224.13 million, on 1,137 hectares have been lost, the DA said.
Corn losses have reached 2,488 metric tons worth P66.32 million on 1,802 hectares, the DA said.
Livestock and poultry producers have lost 7,478 chickens, pigs, cattle, carabaos, goats, sheep, ducks, horses, turkeys, quails and game fowls, worth P12.66 million, the DA said.
Cassava growers have lost 255 MT worth P3.49 million, on 32 hectares, the DA added.
The agency also reported damage to irrigation systems at P21.72 million; to farm machinery and equipment at P98,000; and farm infrastructure at P930,000.
The DA said the latest validated data came from the Cordillera Administrative Region, the 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 added the damage and losses will further rise in its ongoing field assessment and validation.
The DA said it has distributed to farmers and producers, P653.01 million worth of seeds, seedlings, pesticides, forage seeds, free range chicken, and fingerlings.
The agency added that 43,940 bags of rice from the National Food Authority have been turned over 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-Central Luzon for distribution.
The DA reiterated it has started using the Quick Response Fund for the rehabilitation and recovery of affected areas; has been providing P25,000 in loans from the P400-million Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, payable in three years at zero interest; and has released P268 million for the indemnification of 45,980 farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.
The agency added that its regional field offices have been doing field validation and assessment while coordinating with local government units to resolve issues affecting the food supply chain; address reports of flooding; and monitor sudden spikes in the prices of agricultural commodities.
