‘Nona’ Damage to Agri Initially Placed at PHP339M

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has placed the initial damage wrought by typhoon “Nona” to the agriculture sector at PHP338.9 million.

DA is ramping up interventions to immediately replace damaged crops, mostly rice and high value crops (HVC).

Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala said that as of Wednesday afternoon, DA estimates on agriculture losses have already reached PHP338,951,187, with the HVC sector alone losing about PHP218.7 million.

Losses in HVC were concentrated mainly in Region 4-B where typhoon “Nona” made its second landfall.

Meanwhile, the rice sector suffered losses worth around PHP118.7 million, mostly in the Bicol region, where the typhoon made initial landfall.

Losses in cassava was placed at PHP1.35 million while corn losses were placed at a measly PHP199,103.

Alcala said that the figures are still expected to rise as DA field offices are still conducting field evaluations even as several areas like Northern Samar and other parts of Mindoro have yet to submit damage reports due to the bog down in communications.

“However, we are still fortunate that most of our rice and corn farmers have harvested their crops prior to typhoon Nona, otherwise, the damages would be higher,” he said.

“Likewise, even if losses in high value crops are quite huge, these are easily replaceable as vegetables are continuously planted and takes only 45 days to mature,” he said.

He said the DA is now mobilizing all its assets in order to replace damage crops as early as possible.

“Farmers whose crops were totally damaged by Nona would be provided with replacement seeds so that they can immediately replant and recover their losses. DA regional field offices have prepositioned seed stocks to cope up with damages wrought by calamities such as these, so that our farmers could easily recoup their losses at the shortest possible time,” Alcala said.

In the meantime, the DA is reminding affected farmers to get proper certifications from their respective municipal agriculture offices in order for them to avail of the free seeds.

“Having the certification from the local agriculture office would also entitle them to crop insurance, especially those who are already registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture,” Alcala said. (PNA) JMC/CMR