DOST-PAGASA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The agriculture sector took a P2.02 billion hit from the onslaught of typhoon Karding (International name: Noru), the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday.
At least 150,693 hectares of farmlands in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the Ilocos Region, the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the Bicol Region were impacted by Karding, according to the most recent estimate from the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DA DRRM) Operations Center.
The typhoon also burdened at least 91,944 farmers and fisherfolk, with their total volume of production loss valued at 117,663 metric tons, the DA DRRM said.
“The increase in overall damage and losses is due to additional reports on rice, corn, livestock and poultry, and fisheries in CAR, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Bicol Region and Western Visayas,” it explained.
According to the DA DRRM, rice contributed to the vast majority (81.57%) of damaged commodities in Karding, with other high-value crops accounting for 13.76 percent.
It noted, however, that all the figures are subject to validation.
The DA DRRM then listed the following assistance available for distribution to affected farmers and fishers:
- P170.34 million worth of rice seeds, P23.16 million worth of corn seeds and P13.55 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds
- P2.45 million worth of animal heads, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry
- Fingerlings and fishing paraphernalia to affected fisherfolk from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
- Survival and recovery loan program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council with loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest
- P500 million worth of quick response fund for the rehabilitation of affected areas
- Mobile Kadiwa centers for rolling out in areas affected by Karding to stabilize prices and supply of agri-fishery commodities.
Karding, which ravaged several provinces in Luzon over the weekend, affected 176,337 families or 640,963 individuals, according to the situation report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday morning.