The damage wrought by Typhoons “Kristine” and “Leon” has hit nearly ₱7 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Based on the DA’s Bulletin No. 14, it said the weather disturbances also affected 171,080 farmers and fisherfolk.
The areas covered in the damage estimate of the agriculture department were the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga Region.
“Damage and losses have been reported in rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, livestock & poultry, fisheries, machinery and equipment, and agricultural infrastructures,” the DA noted.
According to DA, the typhoons affected a total of 141,971 hectares (ha) of agricultural areas, leading to a volume of production loss at 317,316 metric tons (MT).
The agency, meanwhile, said the production losses for fisheries were at 1,780 MT.
The DA said that rice production losses have reached ₱5.05 billion, impacting 131,168 hectares and amounting to 271,464 metric tons, which is 1.34 percent of the total annual target of 20.19 million metric tons.
Corn production losses amount to ₱107.95 million, impacting 3,197 hectares with a volume loss of 4,714 metric tons, representing 0.05 percent of the yearly production target of 8.86 million metric tons, the department stated.
Aid for farmers, fishers
To cushion the effects of the two typhoons, the DA provided ₱549.64 million worth of agricultural inputs such as rice, corn, vegetable seeds, drugs, and biologics for livestock and poultry.
The agency said 15,697 bags of rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA) have been issued to local government units (LGUs), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and legislators in Regions I, III, IV, V, VIII, and XII.
It also provided ₱1 billion Quick Response Fund (QRF) was made available for the rehabilitation and recovery of affected areas.
As such, ₱500 million was made available to farmers and fishers under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with up to ₱25,000 loanable amount, payable in three years at zero interest.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) has also indemnified insured affected farmers.
KADIWA stores were also opened in affected areas to provide affordable agricultural products.