Egay’s damage to crops hits P1.54B
AT least P1.54 billion worth of agricultural products have been damaged due to the onslaught of typhoon Egay.
The Department of Agriculture reported that the damages and losses to agriculture and fishery sector were recorded in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas and Caraga.
The DA added that at least 99,272 farmers and fisherfolk were affected while volume of production loss was recorded at 66,075 metric tons (MT) and 110,086 hectares of agricultural areas.
The affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and poultry and fisheries. Damage was also incurred in agricultural facilities and fishing paraphernalia. These values are subject to validation.
However, the DA said that additional damage and losses are expected in areas affected by the continuous rain and strong winds brought by Egay.
Meanwhile, the DA said that affected farmers and fishers from the regions affected by EGAY (CAR, Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, VI, and XIII) will be given a total of 111,873 bags of rice seeds, 14,426 bags of corn seeds and 2,582 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; and fingerlings assistance to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The farmers and fishers can also avail Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest and worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.
