Typhoon damage to agri reaches

Damage incurred by the country’s agricultural sector from the recent typhoons already reached 12 billion, with rice as the most heavily damaged crop.

Based on the data provided by Department of Agriculture's (DA) Field Programs Operational Planning Division Chief Christopher Morales over the weekend, damages brought by Tropical Storm Henry, Severe Tropical Storm Inday and Tropical Depression Josie total to the farm sector already amounted to 11.79 billion, affecting rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, livestock and fisheries.

The areas affected were Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, Mimaropa and VI, with Pangasinan being the most affected province (1658.20 million) as well as Tarlac (1433.50 million).

"The DA Regional Field Offices are still conducting thorough field validation to areas badly affected by Tropical Storm Henry, Severe Tropical Storm Inday and Tropical Depression Josie," Morales said.

"The validation aims to determine the extent of damages brought by the three tropical cyclones, as well as to identify the interventions to be provided to the affected farmers and fisherfolk," he added.

The next update on damages brought by the three weather disturbances to the agri-fisheries sector will be posted today.

As of Friday, the worth of damage for rice already amounted to 1 1.41 billion, incurring production loss of about 20,242 metric tons (MT) and affecting 97,016 hectares of land.

Corn, on the other hand, lost as much as 4,350 MT of production with an estimated vaue of 161.14 million. Areas affected stood at 1,431 hectares.

For fisheries, 1234.37 million worth of tilapia, bangus, catfish, crab, shrimp and oyster breeders were affected, disrupting the lives of 1,656 fisherfolk. Most affected provinces are Pangasinan, Pampanga and Bulacan.

Meanwhile, 173.71 million worth of assorted vegetables with 1,939 MT volume of production loss were recorded in high value crops. Most affected provinces are Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan.