The heavy rains brought by Severe Tropical Storm Maring left almost a billion pesos worth of damage to agriculture, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.
In its latest bulletin, the DA said the damages and losses amounting to P979.97 million have been reported in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas.
The storm’s devastation affected 35,429 farmers and fishers, with volume of production loss at 59,514 metric tons (MT) and 52,132 hectares of agricultural areas.
Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock, and fisheries, the DA said.
“These values are subject to validation,” it said.
The Agriculture department has allotted an initial P822 million worth of various interventions to aid farmers and fishermen hit by Maring.
Of the said amount, P650 million will go for the provision of emergency loans to affected farmers and fishermen under the SURE (Survival and Recovery) Calamity Loan Assistance Program through the DA-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
Each farmer or fisherman can borrow P20,000, at zero interest, with no collateral and payable in 10 years.
Aside from the agricultural loan, the Agriculture department has allotted P172 million under its Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas in Regions 1, 2, and CAR.
Other interventions for typhoon-hit farmers include a total of 168,998 bags of rice seeds; 16,601 bags of corn seeds; 1,480 kilograms of assorted vegetables from affected regions; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs; indemnification for affected farmers and fishers from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
The DA said prior to the onslaught of Maring, a total area of 28,952 hectares of rice have been harvested from Regions I and II with an equivalent production of 141,635 metric tons amounting to P2.08 billion.
“As for corn, a total of 13,776 hectares have been harvested from Region II with an equivalent production of 55,654 metric tons amounting to P779.15 million,” the DA said.
The Agriculture department said it is conducting assessment and validation of damage and losses brought by Maring in the agri-fisheries sector through its Regional Field Offices.
“The DA will continue to coordinate with concerned NGAs (national government agencies), LGUs (local government units) and other DRRM (disaster risk reductions and management)-related offices for the impact of ‘Maring,’ as well as available resources for interventions and assistance,” the DA said.—LDF, GMA News
Maring leaves P980-million damage to agriculture –DA
Source: Pinoy Hub News
0 Comments