AGRICULTURAL losses from tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, and monsoon rains have reached P1.03 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday, affecting 30,073 farmers and 25,662 hectares of farmland.
The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and the Western Visayas regions saw production losses of 25,280 metric tons, the DA said in its latest assessment.
“Affected commodities include rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock and poultry, and agri-fisheries infrastructures, machinery and equipment,” it added.
The damage count is expected to rise given continuing assessments and validation are ongoing, the DA said.
Interventions and assistance have been readied for affected farmers and fisherfolk, with the DA saying that it had prepared P177.67 million worth of rice, corn and vegetable seeds, 1,007 bags of rice for La Union and Batanes, and P35.67 million in crop insurance payouts for 5,005 farmers through Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.
It is also offering zero-interest survival and recovery loans of up to P25,000 via Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
Regional offices have established pop-up stores at SM Baguio to provide additional market outlets for affected producers, while the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal is being monitored to help facilitate the movement and sale of agricultural products from the CAR. Kadiwa trucks have also been mobilized to assist in transporting farm goods and relief to affected communities.
The DA said it was coordinating with regional disaster response councils, local governments and other concerned agencies, and monitoring of commodity prices and market supply to prevent overpricing and profiteering.
