A STRING of typhoons and monsoon rains catapulted agricultural damage to fisheries and farm fields to more than P1.4 billion, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Agricultural damage from the southwest monsoon and typhoons Luis and Maymay has already climbed to P1.42 billion, affecting 43,340 farmers and fisherfolk.
While the weather disturbances have ravaged 34,572 hectares, the agency said 28,445 hectares could still recover.
The DA, however, noted that the volume of losses was pegged at 35,083 MT, with further damage and losses expected as assessments and validation in affected regions continue.
Broken down, rice accounted for the majority of losses at 21,848 MT valued at P794.4 million. Most of the damage was recorded in vegetative and reproductive stages.
The high-value crops trailed behind, with losses at 10,702 MT worth P454.91 million. This included upland and lowland vegetables, such as spices, legumes, calamansi, citrus, and root crops.
Other commodities such as corn and cassava also recorded damage and losses of 2,426 MT worth P74.51 million and 97 MT valued at P1.79 million, respectively.
The fisheries and aquatic resources sector recorded P9.26 million in damage, affecting several seafood produce, such as milkfish, tilapia, mangrove crab, oyster, and giant freshwater prawn. It also damaged fishing boats and gear.
Losses in the livestock industry stood at 22,376 heads worth P12.11 million, which included chickens, swine, cattle, carabaos, and goats, among others.
Furthermore, irrigation facilities, farm structures, and machineries also had damages valued at P59.76 million, P15.82 million, and P1.37 million, respectively.
Given the gravity of the weather disturbances on the farm sector, the DA said it has issued a series of interventions to help affected farmers and fisherfolk.
This includes P210.93 million worth of farm inputs such as rice, corn, and vegetable seeds.
Around 3,631 50-kilo bags of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) were distributed to the affected local government units (LGUs) of Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, and Mimaropa.
The DA also earmarked an initial amount of P35.67 million to indemnify 5,005 insured affected farmers and fisherfolk through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
It also offers loans of up to P25,000 from the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), which come interest-free with a three-year repayment term.