Kristine’s farm damage at least 5.75-B

The Department of Agriculture  estimated the toll from supertyphoon Kristine to agriculture and infrastructure at P5.75 billion and counting.

The DA latest bulletin said the volume of production losses in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western and Eastern Visayas, Soccsksargen and Caraga Region reached 557,851 metric tons (MT).

Broken down, rice suffered most of Kristine’s typhoon impact at 516,438 MT; followed by damage of 35,616 MT for high-value crops; 3,334 MT for corn; and 2,047 MT for cassava and 416 MT for fisheries, Business Mirror reported.

The report also indicated that the production losses were equivalent to P4.25 billion for rice, P847.48 million for high-value crops, P72.15 million for corn, and P38.89 million for cassava.

According to DA, most of the damage and losses incurred by corn and rice were in the reproductive and maturity stages.

The livestock and poultry sector lost 6,112 heads of swine, chicken, cattle, carabao, goat, sheep, ducks, and turkey among others. The value of damage reached P12.52 million, according to the DA.

It valued the damage sustained by the fisheries sector at P446.22 million.

The irrigation facilities and other farm structure also suffered damage valued at P27 million and P50.41 million, respectively. The damage to machinery and equipment was assessed at P300,000.

DA noted that damaged farm structures include rain shelter, greenhouses, animal houses, and administrative buildings.

Kristine affected 131,661 farmers and fisherfolk, with 109,871 hectares (ha) of farmlands. Of this, 71,405 hectares have a chance of recovery.

The DA said it had allocated interventions such as P541.02 million worth of agricultural inputs like rice, corn, and vegetable seeds; as well as drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry.

It added that 5,292 bags of rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA) were distributed to local government units (LGUs) in Ilocos Region and Bicol for distribution.

The DA said the available funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) will also be disbursed to indemnify affected farmers.

At least P500 million for the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), with a loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years without interest, was also included.

“As affected areas become accessible, further damage and losses are expected with the conduct of field validation by DA Regional Field Offices [RFOs].”