Karding agricultural damage hits P3.12 billion
Super Typhoon Karding’s agricultural damage has reached P3.12 billion a week after exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday (Oct 3).
In its latest bulletin, the DA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DA-DRRMO) said that the super typhoon affected 170,762 hectares of farm lands in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.
Around 108,594 farmers and fisherfolk have been affected by Karding, with the DA estimating their combined production loss at 158,117 metric tons (MT).
“Affected commodities include rice, corn, cassava, abaca, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries. Damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructures, machineries and equipment,” the DA said.
The rice sector had the highest production loss, reaching 134,205 MT worth P2.05 billion in damages. This was followed by high-value crops with damages amounting to P831.29 million, with Nueva Ecija and Bulacan in Central Luzon sustaining the most damages.
Meanwhile, damages to the fisheries sector including loss in fish production, fishing boats, and gears reached P116.55 million.
The DA reported more losses in the following sectors:
P65.40 million for corn
P12.86 million for livestock and poultry
P1.47 million worth of cassava loss in Tarlac
P118,.350 cost of damage for abaca in Quezon
P26.30 million loss in infrastructure including “damaged solar panels, ventilators, spandrel, and roofings,” among others
P12.20 million worth of loss in machinery and equipment
Available assistance
The Agriculture department said that they are coordinating with local government units (LGUs) of affected areas in assessing damages and distributing P709-million worth of assistance and interventions.
According to the office, the following assistance are available for distribution to affected farmers and fishers:
P185.69M worth of rice seeds, P23.16M worth of corn seeds and P13.55M worth of assorted vegetable seeds
P2.45M worth of animal heads, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry
P554,000 worth of fingerlings and fishing paraphernalia to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest
Mobile KADIWA centers for rolling out in areas affected by STY "KARDING" to stabilize prices and supply of agri-fishery commodities
Additionally, the DA has allocated a Quick Response Fund of P500 million which can be used for the immediate repair or rehabilitation of damaged production facilities.
Pola Rubio is a news writer and photojournalist covering Philippine politics and events. She regularly follows worldwide and local happenings. She advocates for animal welfare and press freedom. Follow her twitter @polarubyo for regular news and cat postings.
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