Kristine agri damage reaches P80.80 million

A drone shot of rice fields submerged in flood following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Tram) in Camarines Sur on Wednesday (Oct. 23, 2024). The Department of Agriculture has recorded P80.80 million worth of damage to agriculture in four regions, affecting 2,864 farmers. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Naga City Government via PNA

The country’s agriculture sector sustained P80.80 million in losses due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

In its bulletin issued on Thursday afternoon, the DA said Kristine has affected 2,864 farmers in Cordillera, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Bicol and Western Visayas.

READ: Severe Tropical Storm Kristine kills over 20 in Bicol, hits 12 regions

The volume of production loss is estimated at 5,287 metric tons covering 1,570 hectares of agricultural land.

“As field assessments continue, further damage and losses are anticipated, potentially impacting additional commodities,” the DA said.

The agency has prepared various interventions for those affected:

• P80.21 million worth of agricultural inputs (rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, drugs and biologics for livestocks) from DA Regional Field Offices CAR, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, and VIII;
• Up to P25,000 loanable amount from the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), payable in three years at zero interest; and
• Indemnification of insured affected farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC)