DA says agricultural damage due to ‘Agaton’ now costs P2.8 billion

FILE PHOTO: An aerial shot taken on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, shows the reach of the landslide that hit Kantagnos in Baybay, Leyte. AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The cost of typhoon Agaton’s devastation to agriculture continues to increase with the Department of Agriculture (DA) pegging it at P2.8 billion as of Thursday, April 21.

In its latest report, the DA said the amount covers a total volume loss of 89,093 metric tons (MT), affecting a total of 64,525 farmers and fishers, and 31,645 hectares of agricultural land.

The most affected commodity was still rice crops with a total volume loss of 73,484 MT worth P1.3 billion, according to the DA, followed by high-value crops, particularly, vegetables, cacaos, and fruits, logging a volume loss of 13,573 MT worth P296.7 million.

Corn also suffered a 2,036 MT volume loss worth P53.6 million, it added.

A total of 78,732 heads of livestock and poultry, specifically chicken, swine, cattle, carabao, duck, goat, horse, goat, and turkey were also killed by the storm, generating a loss of P40.9 million.

Damage worth P782.1 million in fisheries was also recorded, particularly in produce, fish pens, fishing boats, gears and engines, affecting 2,852 fishers, the latest DA report noted.

Irrigation and agri-facilities like the communal irrigation system, riprap, and irrigation canal were likewise affected by Agaton, posting P330.9 million worth of damage.

Typhoon Agaton is 2022’s first tropical depression that hit the Philippines, which sees around 20 such storms every year.

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