Quake damage to crops, livestock: P10M

THE Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA-7) recorded around P10 million  of crop  damage and livestock lost caused by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake last Feb. 6.

Most of the damaged crops were rice and coconut, said DA-7 spokesperson Cheryl Dela Victoria.

Dela Victoria said  the estimated damage for rice production was P3 million, while for coconut production, the damage reached P1.8 million.

Corn, fruits and vegetable production loss reached P3.2 million.

Livestock lost including swine, cattle, carabao, goats and poultry was estimated to have reached P2 million.

“This would not create a big impact on the production of agricultural products in central Visayas since it is just a small damage for the whole region,” Dela Victoria said.

In Central Visayas, only the province of Negros Oriental experienced agricultural damage, Dela Victoria said.

Guihulgan City was the most affected area while the municipalities of La Libertad, Tayasan and Ayun-ayun experienced minor damage in  crops and livestock.

Dela Victoria said the DA  plans to give out seedlings to the farmers at  the onset of the rainy season so that they could resume  crop production.

She said no seeds were distributed yet because the DA was  still identifying the farmers in the affected areas and who would be recipients of  the seedlings.

DA-7 also provided P600,000 worth of relief goods to the affected areas in Negros Oriental.

The goods consist of rice, fresh eggs, chicken meant, pork, assorted vegetables, dried fish and canned goods. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya