Odette damage to PH agri now past P11B, says DA

Agricultural damage | PHOTO: INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines—The damage caused by Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) to the agriculture sector blew past the P11 billion-mark and the Department of Agriculture (DA) is expecting to record additional losses from areas hit by the typhoon.

In a bulletin released on Thursday (Jan. 6), the DA said the amount of losses has soared to P11.1 billion.

The typhoon affected 389,316 farmers and fishers in the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga.

The volume of production loss stood at 252,956 metric tons (MT) covering 420,465 hectares of agricultural areas.

Losses to the fisheries sector remained at P3 billion affecting 50,256 fishermen.

But Odette’s impact on the rice sector rose to P2.6 billion, with production loss pegged at 138,010 MT spanning 114,034 ha.

High-value crops (P1.5 billion), the coconut sector (P1.5 billion), and the sugarcane sector (P1.2 billion) took a hit as well.

The agency said it has prepared at least P2.9 billion in financial assistance for affected farmers and fishers.

TSB