Nearly 12,000 farmers lost at least P355.63 million in earnings after their crops were damaged by two recent typhoons, according to the initial assessment of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In its third bulletin on Typhoon Maymay and Neneng, the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DA-DRRM OpCen) said the two typhoons affected 15,850 hectares of agricultural areas across three regions.
The DA-DRRM OpCen said it recorded 25,297 metric tons (MT) of production loss in the regions of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley.
“Affected commodities include rice, corn and high value crops. These values are subject to validation,” it said on its latest bulletin on Wednesday.
“The values of damage and losses for Maymay and Neneng have been combined as the two tropical cyclones occurred in a span of one week and affected the same agricultural areas in CAR, Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley.”
The DA-DRRM OpCen latest report showed that the rice sector accounted for 96.88 percent of the total agricultural damage and losses recorded.
The DA-DRRM OpCen recorded P344.53 million in damage and losses in the rice sector after 15,705 hectares of farms were affected by the two typhoons in Ilocos Norte, Apayao and Cagayan. The estimated volume loss was at 24,723 MT, according to the report.
The high value crops sector registered nearly P7 million worth of damage and losses after 18 hectares of assorted vegetables were affected by the typhoons. The DA-DRRM OpCen tallied a production loss of 191 MT in the high value crops sector.
Corn farmers lost 382 MT of produce valued at P4.16 million, according to the DA-DRRM OpCen.
“The DA, through its Regional Field Offices [RFOs], is conducting assessment of damage and losses brought by Maymay and Neneng in the agri-fisheries sector,” it said.
“The DA continuously coordinates with concerned [national government agencies], [local government units] and other DRRM-related offices for the impact of the tropical cyclones, as well as available resources for interventions and assistance.”
The DA-DRRM OpCen said the government assistance is available for distribution to affected farmers and fishers such as rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry and even fingerlings.
The DA-DRRM OpCen added that affected farmers and fisherfolk could avail of the Survival and Recovery Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council with loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest. The DA-DRRM OpCen said the government has an available quick response fund for the rehabilitation of affected areas.