AT least P746.5 million worth of agricultural products have been damaged due to continuous rains in Visayas and Mindanao regions brought by shearline and northeast monsoon.

In its Bulletin No. 5 on Shearline, ITCZ, LPA, and Northeast Monsoon, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the damage and losses have been reported in MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga regions.

The DA said there were 36,307 farmers affected with volume of production loss at 14,158 metric tons (MT) and 41,721 hectares of agricultural areas.

Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, and livestock and poultry. These values are subject to validation.

The DA also disclosed that assistance were already provided to the affected farmers.

Among the assistance given were rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds; Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with loanable amount of up to PhP 25,000 payable in three years at zero interest; and Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Cory Martinez