The Department of Agriculture-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DA-DRRM) Operations Center reported that Typhoon Paolo (international name Matmo) caused more than P162 million in agricultural damage across Cagayan Valley.
‘The DA Regional Field Office in Cagayan Valley reported damage and losses in rice, corn, high-value crops, and livestock and poultry amounting to P162.73 million, affecting 3,890 farmers,’ the agency’s Bulletin No. 4 said on Wednesday.
These losses cover a total production volume of 9,039 metric tons (MT) across 5,181 hectares of affected agricultural areas.
The high-value crops sector incurred the biggest damage, with 1,710 MT in production losses of vegetables and bananas amounting to P85.16 million.
Rice followed with 6,246 MT in production losses valued at P66.16 million, most of which were in reproductive and maturity stages.
The corn sector recorded 1,082 MT in losses worth P11.18 million, while livestock and poultry sustained P220,000 in losses for 72 heads of cattle.
Field validation is ongoing.
Aside from Paolo, the agency earlier reported PHP9.96 million in fisheries losses due to the magnitude 6.9 Cebu earthquake and P2.51 billion in damage from the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Mirasol, Nando, and Opong, affecting over 85,000 farmers and fishers.
The DA said available interventions include P766.42 million worth of agricultural inputs for rice, corn, and high-value crops; zero-interest loans of up to P25,000 per farmer payable in three years; and P237 million in insurance payouts through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC); mobilization of Kadiwa Centers to sell rice under the P20 per kilogram program; and issuance of rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA), among others. (PNA)/coa