AGRI DAMAGES AT P216-M
More than 10,000 hectares of rice and corn plantations were affected by the recent flooding and heavy rains
Damages to the agriculture industry by the rains and floods in Davao Region in the past couple of weeks have already reached over P216.49 million, the Department of Agriculture 11 (DA 11) said.
Based on the progress report of DA 11, over 10,000 hectares (has.) of rice and corn plantations were damaged as of February 4, 2019. Of this number, a total 4,480 has. was totally damaged while 5,951 has. was partially damaged. A total of 7,905 farmers were also affected by the recent flooding and heavy rains.
Based on the records from DA 11, Davao del Norte was the hardest hit with damages amounting to P195.25 million. Almost 90 percent or 4,019.7 has. that were totally damaged are also in the province. Partially damaged plantations in the province was at 4,446.75 has., which is nearly 75 percent of the total partially damaged plantaions. A total of 6,609 rice and corn farmers were affected by the recent flooding and heavy rains.
Some P20.86 million in damages were recorded in Compostela Valley where 455.95 has. were totally damaged and 1,488.75 has. were partially damaged. A total of 1,284 farmers were affected in the province.
Davao Oriental recorded P375,555 in damages where four hectares of corn plantation were damaged while 16 has. were partially damaged. Only 12 corn farmers were affected in the province.
“Mabigat syempre yung ininvest nila biglang nawala… tutulungan naman namin sila, “Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) focal person Roy Pascua said in a text message.
Pascua added that they will be providing assistance to the affected farmers by providing them seeds through the Provincial Agriculture Office based on the Registry System in Basic Sector for Agriculture (RSBSA). He said there will also be risk assistance from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
“Meron pa affected high value crops, livestock or poultry, and fisheries... on going pa ang consolidation,” he said.