The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking to strengthen its efforts to help vegetable farmers reduce losses from persistent rains, as agricultural damage from tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” reaches ₱1.42 billion.

In a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 18, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said he has ordered the DA’s regional office in Benguet to take the necessary steps to assist farmers who reportedly discarded crops due to persistent rains in the province.

According to the DA, approximately 5,800 kilos, or around 5.8 metric tons (MT), of Chinese cabbage and carrots were recently discarded by two farmers along Labey-Lacamen Road in the municipality of Tublay.

The farmers were left with no choice but to discard these crops amid continuous rainfall and prolonged congestion at trading centers, which resulted in immediate signs of rotting and deterioration of the vegetables.

These losses highlight the need for faster logistics, stronger market linkages, and coordinated support programs to help highland vegetable growers weather both climate and market challenges, according to the DA.

The DA issued its call after its latest bulletin showed that the agriculture sector has incurred ₱1.42 billion in damage from the impact of tropical cyclones and habagat over the past two weeks.

These weather disturbances have damaged a total of 34,572 hectares (ha) of farmland overseen by 43,340 farmers, with production losses estimated at around 35,083 MT.

The DA said these losses were reported in the regions of Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas.

According to the DA, the rice sector accounted for ₱794.4 million, or nearly 56 percent of total losses so far, from a production loss of 21,848 MT.

High-value crops, which include highland and lowland vegetables such as cabbage and carrots, reported damage to 10,702 MT of farm produce with a value of ₱454.91 million.

The DA said it expects damage and losses to climb further in the affected regions as additional assessment and validation are still ongoing.

To help farmers recover, the DA said it has already lined up ₱210.93 million worth of agricultural inputs such as rice, corn, and vegetable seeds.

The DA, through state-run National Food Authority (NFA), is set to deliver 3,631 bags of rice to affected municipalities in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Mimaropa.

State-run Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) has also earmarked ₱35.67 million worth of indemnification for 5,005 affected insured farmers and fisherfolk.