DA: Damage to agriculture in Maring’s aftermath hits P692M

The Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet was flooded due to continuous heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Maring on Monday. /Photo Courtesy of Leah Lyn Bales

MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Maring left with an estimated P692 million worth of damage to agriculture, livestock, and fisheries in Northern Luzon,  the Department of Agriculture said Wednesday.

The damage and losses amounted to a volume of production loss currently at 36,537 metric tons (MT), affecting 32,392 farmers and fishers and 36,537 hectares of agricultural land.

These losses, however, are still subject to validation according to the DA.

The majority of the commodities affected were rice crops totaling 30,183 MT of volume loss worth P498.1 million.

The next most affected is corn, with 7,710 MT of losses worth P119.8 million.

Meanwhile, high-value crops particularly, vegetables, bananas, and strawberries suffered a total of 6,091 volume loss worth P56.1 million.

Livestock and poultry, as well as fisheries, were also affected a great deal with damages at P6.2 million and P11.8 million, respectively.

According to the DA the following will be provided to the affected farmers and fishers:

Quick Response Fund (QRF) amounting to P172 million for the rehabilitation of affected areas

A total of 168,998 bags of rice seeds; 16,601 bags of corn seeds, and 1,480 kilograms of assorted vegetables from the affected regions

Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs

Emergency loan assistance from Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) totaling to P500 million wherein an amount of up to P20,000 will be provided with zero interest and no collateral, payable in 10 years

Available funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers

Currently, fairer weather is expected throughout the country on Thursday, with the center of Maring last recorded to be located 1,155 kilometers west of extreme Northern Luzon, outside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

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/MUF