Shear line, ITCZ and amihan have minimal impact on agriculture – DA

Shear line, ITCZ and amihan have minimal impact on agriculture – DA

Boys play as big waves hit a park in Navotas, north of Manila, Philippines on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013. (File photo from AP/AARON FAVILA)

The Department of Agriculture (DA) sees minimal impact from recent weather disturbances even as the country’s sector incurred millions of losses as of writing.

Based on the DA’s latest bulletin, agricultural damage amounted to P67.6 million as of Monday due to the combined effects of the shear line, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and the northeast monsoon (amihan).

It said the livelihood of some 1,887 farmers in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao, and Soccsksargen were affected.

The DA pegged the volume of production loss at 472 metric tons, spanning 3,692 hectares (ha) of agricultural land.

Rice comprised over 86 percent of the total with P58.4 million, followed by livestock with P4.1 million and high-value crops with P2.8 million.

Despite this, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said on Monday they don’t expect the weather disturbances to have major effects on retail prices of agricultural goods.

“This is very, very small volume,” said de Mesa, also the DA’s spokesperson.

The DA said the assessment of the damage brought by the weather systems is ongoing. It is also monitoring the actual weather situation and field conditions in affected areas.

At the same time, the agency said it is coordinating with national and local government offices concerned to provide available resources for interventions and assistance.

It has set aside agricultural inputs such as rice, corn, and vegetable seeds for distribution through DA regional offices.

Affected farmers can secure funding from the quick response fund for the rehabilitation and recovery of affected areas.

The Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program is offering up to P25,000 in loans that are payable in three years at zero interest.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. is indemnifying insured affected farmers.

In Metro Manila, a kilo of tomato retailed from P150 to P310 as of Jan. 10, higher than only P40 to P90 in the same period a year ago, according to the DA’s price monitoring.

Cabbage (repolyo) ranged between P50 and P250 per kilogram as opposed to P40 to P80 per kg.

Carrots were sold from P120-P220 per kg, also higher than P60-P130 per kg, while white potatoes were priced from P110-P220 per kg compared with P100-P160 per kg.

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