Maring damages P1.8B agri products, farmlands
AT least P1.87 billion worth of agricultural products and farmlands have been damaged and loss due to the onslaught of Typhoon Maring in several regions in the country.
In its Bulletin No. 9 on Typhoon Maring, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that as of 8 a.m. yesterday, the damage and losses brought by the typhoon were reported in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN.
The DA also reported that there were at least 60,195 farmers and fishers affected with volume of production loss at 91,407 metric tons (MT) and 69,868 hectares of agricultural areas.
Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and fisheries, and irrigation and agri-facilities. These values are subject to validation.
The DA, however, said that prior to “MARING”, a total area of 28,952 hectares of rice have been harvested from Regions I and II with an equivalent production of 141,635 metric tons amounting to P2.08B.
As for corn, a total of 13,776 hectares have been harvested from Region II with an equivalent production of 55,654 metric tons amounting to P779.15 million.
The DA through its Regional Field Offices (RFOs), continue its assessment and validation of damage and losses brought by STS “MARING” in the agri-fisheries sector.
To help the affected farmers and fisherfolk, the DA will provide a P1.5-billion worth of interventions and assistance which include the P172-M worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas; P296-M worth of free seeds of rice, corn and assorted vegetables for distribution to affected farmers; and P19-M worth of fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk.
Other interventions include the P1-M worth of drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs; P650-M worth of emergency loan assistance from the DA’s Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), where each affected farm and fisher household can borrow up to P20,000, at zero-interest, no-collateral, and payable in 10 years; and
P370-M worth of indemnity from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) for 44,208 affected farmers in CAR, Regions I, II, III and MIMAROPA.
