Gov’t advisories saved P5.5B crops, DA says

Typhoon Ulysses’ (international name: Vamco) impact on farm production is still being assessed, but the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that early warnings helped save P5.5 billion worth of rice and corn crops.

“Due to (our) early advisory, a total of 69,716 hectares of rice has been saved from (Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Mimaropa) with an equivalent production of 341,812 metric tons amounting to P5.48 billion,” the DA said in an update.

“As for corn, a total of 1,550 ha have been saved from (Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon) with an equivalent production of 6,758 metric tons amounting to P85.62 million,” it added.

But damage from “Quinta” and “Rolly” continued to climb, which the DA has pegged at a combined P8.46 billion as of Nov. 11, or just as when Ulysses was approaching Luzon.

Farmers, fishers assured

The DA assured affected farmers and fishers that assistance packages were available, including rice, corn and vegetable seeds; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; loans from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council; and indemnification from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. for the losses incurred.

As for Quinta and Rolly, the typhoons destroyed a total of 326,566 metric tons of rice, corn, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock and facilities across nine affected regions in Luzon and the Visayas.

Quinta alone caused P2.66 billion in damage and losses while Rolly chalked up P5.79 billion.

To help reduce the adverse effects of natural calamities on the economy, policy think tank Stratbase ADR Institute urged the public to patronize local goods to alleviate the plight of millions of farmers and agricultural workers.

Buy local

Dindo Manhit, president of Stratbase ADR Institute, said buying local produce would not only help the agriculture and food sector raise their production and productivity but also reduce importation to the minimum.

Speaking during a virtual town hall meeting on ensuring the food supply chain organized by Stratbase ADR, Manhit stressed the need for the local food supply to cater to local demand, even as he cited the agricultural sector for being the lone sector of the economy that exhibited growth during the pandemic and lockdown.

Buying local food products will strengthen the local agricultural production cycle, increase yield and food availability and access, leading to a more balanced supply of locally produced and imported food and agricultural produce, Manhit said.

Industry leaders said the agriculture and food sector continued to face the challenge of importation even

as Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan points out that that the government policy is that importation “should always be the last resort.”

Balanced policy

In the same forum, Rex Aggarado, spokesperson of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc., appealed to the government to rationalize importation by imposing a “Philippine Inc.” cap on certain canned products.

He noted that a popular imported brand of luncheon meat is back on supermarket shelves, entering the Philippines at a low 3-percent import duty, giving local manufacturers a hard time competing with.

Nikki Garcia, President of the Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. called for a balanced policy on exportation and importation.

Garcia said that a recalibrated policy would facilitate agricultural recovery, operations, and production systems.

In this manner, agricultural opportunities and livelihoods are locally cultivated and maintained in the sector, she said.

Manhit noted that at a recent hearing on the budget of the DA, senators expressed concerns over continuing food importation.

Sen. Cynthia Villar appealed to DA officials to prohibit the importation of rice, corn, feed wheat and other alternatives during harvest season to protect farmers.