Agri losses due to Karding climb to P2.95 billion, says DA

FILE PHOTO: Farmers in Luzon provinces hit by Super Typhoon Karding (international name: Noru) will need government assistance to recover their losses. On Monday, September 26, 2022, agricultural areas in San Miguel, Bulacan, remain flooded due to heavy rain dumped by Karding. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s agricultural losses due to Super Typhoon Karding (international name: Noru) have increased to P2.95 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Friday.

In its latest data, 164,217 hectares of farmlands in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas have been affected by the severe weather event, resulting in a combined production toll of 154,734 metric tons.

The DA released the breakdown of value losses, based on the report of its Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DA- DRRM) Operations Center, as follows:

• Rice – P2.02 billion
• Corn – P65.4 million
• High-value crops – P745.8 million
• Fisheries – P75.2 million
• Livestock and poultry – P12.8 million
• Irrigation and agri-facilities – P24.8 million
• Machinery and equipment – P12.2 million

The DA-DRRM data also noted that 103,552 farmers were affected by Karding, the agriculture department added.

Aid for farmers and fisherfolks

The DA likewise said Friday that P185.69 million worth of rice seeds are available for distribution to affected farmers. This amount increased from P170.34 million on Thursday,

It further enumerated other forms of assistance that affected farmers and fisherfolks may obtain from the government:

• P23.16 million worth of corn seeds
• P13.55 million worth of various vegetable seeds
• P2.45 million worth of animal heads, drugs, and biologics for livestock and poultry
• P25,000 worth of payable loans, payable in three years at zero interest from the Survival and recovery loan program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council
• P500 million worth of quick response funds for the rehabilitation
• Fingerlings and fishing paraphernalia for fisherfolk from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
• Mobile Kadiwa centers in areas affected by Karding to stabilize prices and supply of agri-fishery commodities

As of Thursday, September 29, the government said damage in the agriculture sector brought about by Karding reached P2.02 billion, covering 150,693 hectares of farmlands in the CAR, the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol Region.

Karding pummeled parts of Luzon last weekend, affected 245,063 families, and reportedly left 12 people dead.

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