Agricultural damage from the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng nears P3 billion
In its latest bulletin, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the farm sector sustained P2.84 billion in losses as of Tuesday.
The figure is 22.4 percent higher than the P2.32 billion recorded by the agency on Aug. 27.
The weather disturbances affected 72,803 farmers and fishers in the regions of Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Western Visayas.
Typhoons damaged 63,921 metric tons (MT) of farm produce spanning 64,234 hectares of agricultural land.
Of the total, rice accounted for nearly 50 percent or P1.42 billion. High-value crops followed with 26.8 percent (P761.43 million) and fisheries with 14.53 percent (P412.84 million).
‘Further damage and losses are expected in affected regions as assessment and validation are ongoing,’ the DA said.