FAO, Oxfam send support to farmers in Eastern Visayas

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Two international organizations have extended their support to farmers in Eastern Visayas after the devastation wrought by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” last month caused P17 billion worth of damages to agriculture.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (Oxfam) have committed 20,375 and 10,000 bags of rice seeds each to complement the 7,500 bags allocated by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office-8 (DFA RFO-8).

At least 63,234 bags of rice seeds are needed to cover all affected rice farms in Eastern Visayas.

“We wish to rehabilitate over 63,000 hectares badly damaged areas in the region. That’s why we are grateful we have partners who are willing to help us achieve this target,” DA RFO-8 Regional Executive Director Antonio Gerundio said in a statement Sunday.

Gerundio said they are hoping that replanting starts this month so farmers could harvest their crops by February or March next year.

Both FAO and Oxfam identified priority areas in Leyte with Burauen, Sta. Fe, San Miguel, Tacloban City, Dagami and La Paz assigned to FAO, and Palo, Tanauan, Dulag, Julita, Mac Arthur and Mayorga to be handled by Oxfam.  Meanwhile, Alang-alang, Leyte and the provinces of Biliran and Eastern Samar will be covered by DA.

However, FAO Area Coordinator Peter Flewwelling said their assistance package will be distributed before the end of December, prioritizing farmers whose areas are ready for replanting. Oxfam, on the other hand, will distribute seeds on or before December 15.

In addition to rice, DA is also working to rehabilitate corn, vegetable and livestock areas in the region.

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