Agricultural losses caused by the onslaught of Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) have breached ₱3 billion, with high-value crops sustaining the most damage, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a report published on Friday evening, Nov. 14, the DA stated that the agriculture sector suffered ₱3.17 billion in losses from the typhoon, significantly higher than the ₱188.27 million reported on Nov. 12.

More than 34,000 farmers were affected by the storm, with production losses amounting to 153.493 metric tons (MT) covering 25,996 hectares (ha) of agricultural land.

While the figures are still expected to rise, the high-value crops sector was reported to have been hit the hardest as of Nov. 14, with losses reaching ₱1.52 billion.

The DA estimated that 61,120 MT of crops, including lowland and upland vegetables, spices, legumes, fruits, root crops, coffee, and cacao, were damaged.

The rice sector ranked second, with damage to 13,443 ha, around 23 percent of which were totally damaged.

A total of 88,389 MT of rice valued at ₱1.47 billion were estimated to have been lost.

Losses in corn reached ₱131.13 million from a production loss of 3,674 MT covering 3,983 ha.

Damage in corn stood at ₱10.23 million, covering 362 ha and output losses of 320 MT.

Taking into account the impact of the storm that came before Uwan, Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi), the combined damage stands at ₱3.72 billion.

Both storms affected nearly 55,000 farmers and fisherfolk, with a volume of production loss at 19.14 million MT and 36,630 ha of agricultural areas.

The DA will distribute over ₱700 million worth of agricultural inputs, including animal feeds and supplements for livestock and poultry, to help those affected.

The agency has also readied financial assistance through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) and Survival and Recovery (SURE) loan program.

The DA, through the National Food Authority (NFA), has delivered 2.57 million bags of rice stocks to relief agencies and local government units (LGUs)

“Monitoring of prices and road networks is ongoing for any changes in prices and movement of agricultural commodities, in coordination with LGUs and Local Price Coordinating Councils,” it said.