Agriculture losses due to Julian climb to P481.27 million

The country’s agriculture sector sustained more losses following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Julian (international name: (Krathon), with the Department of Agriculture (DA) reporting that the damage climbed to P481.27 million. INQUIRER FILES

The country’s agriculture sector sustained more losses following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Julian (international name: (Krathon), with the Department of Agriculture (DA) reporting that the damage climbed to P481.27 million.

In its latest bulletin, the DA said Julian affected 20,134 farmers in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.

It pegged the value of production losses at 19,151 metric tons spanning 13,488 hectares of land.

“As field assessments and validations continue, further damage and losses are expected in the affected regions, particularly on palay in Cagayan Valley,” it said.

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Rice accounted for 72.39 percent or P348.42 million, of overall losses, most of which are in the reproductive and maturity stages.

Corn sustained P35.75 million in damage, while P92.68 million of irrigation facilities were hit.

Other sub-sectors were also affected: high-value crops (P3.96 million) and livestock and poultry (P472,550).

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The DA said it is prepared to distribute P164.27 million in agricultural inputs (rice, corn, and vegetable seeds).

Those affected can tap up to P25,000 in loans from the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), payable in three years at zero interest.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) has available funds to compensate insured affected farmers.