Agriculture dep’t sees ‘hiccup’ in Q3 output due to recent storms

THE damage caused by recent storms this month may show up as a “slight hiccup” in third quarter agricultural output, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol did not disclose on Monday how much he expects output to be set back, saying only that most of the damage to crops, while widespread, was only partial.

“There is (also) a beneficial effect from the strong rains since the areas that are non-irrigated and rain-fed actually benefited from these storms as they were able to plant a second crop,” he added.

“We had a little damage… but more than that the rain still had a beneficial effect.”

Overall agricultural losses as of Monday were estimated at P565.19 million, the department said.

Mr. Piñol added that the DA expects farmers to replant as soon as possible to make up for the losses. However, this will delay their harvest, Mr. Piñol said.

“We still have under the QRF (quick respond funds) P1 billion. In addition to that, we have the SURE (Survival and Recovery) Assistance Program [and] we have the [Philippine Crop Insurance for those who had their crops ensured],” he added, referring to funding available to farmers affected by the storms.

“Of course [we] the immediate intervention in terms of seed. It’s not a question of resources. We have the resources.”

The SURE Assistance Program, which is implemented by DA’s Agricultural Credit Policy Council, provides assistance to farmers and fisherfolk affected by natural calamities.

The program can give survival assistance grant up to P10,000 per borrower or recovery assistance loan up to P25,000 per borrower at 0% interest payable for up to three years.

Assistant Secretary Andrew B. Villacorta said that while damaged areas

planted to rice was 26,000 hectares ( ha) as of July 22, with most of the crop “in the vegetative and seedling stages.”

“If you look at the total damage, the area that suffered total damage is about 1,000 ha. and the rest are partially damaged,” he added.

The rice crop that was destroyed by storms was the equivalent of “304 metric tons only because these are the ones that reached the maturity stage. The rest are vegetative. So what we expect is that the farmers will simply replant.”

In July, tropical depressions Florita, Gardo, Henry, Inday, and Josie entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Heavily affected were Regions I and III, Mr. Villacorta said.

PAGASA has reported that as another low pressure area tailing the outgoing Josie may strengthen into another tropical depression. —