Agricultural damage due to Kristine climbs to P3.11B

FLOODED RICE FIELDS. A drone shot of rice fields submerged in flood following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) in Camarines Sur on Wednesday (Oct. 23, 2024). The Department of Agriculture has recorded PHP80.80 million worth of damage to agriculture in four regions, affecting 2,864 farmers. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Naga City Government via PNA

The agriculture sector sustained P3.11 billion in damage following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

In its bulletin, the DA said the storm has affected the livelihood of 74,554 farmers in Cordillera Administrative, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Soccsksargen and Caraga.

It estimated the volume of production losses at 160,107 metric tons (MT) covering 72,329 hectares (ha) of land.

READ: Kristine damage reaches P4.36B

Rice was the most affected subsector, sustaining P2.87 billion in losses, accounting for 92.51 percent of the total. Most of these were in reproductive and maturity stages.

Other affected commodities include high-value crops (P121.08 million), corn (P22.27 million), fisheries (P11.20 million), cassava (P6.55 million), and livestock and poultry (P3.73 million).

Kristine also damaged P26 million worth of irrigation facilities and P41.66 million worth of farm structures.

“As the assessments continue, further damage and losses are expected in the affected regions,” the DA said.

“Furthermore, monitoring prices and road networks is ongoing for any changes in prices and movement of agricultural commodities, respectively,” it added.

The DA is providing various interventions to affected fishers and farmers:

• P541.02 million worth of agricultural inputs (rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, drugs, and biologics for livestock and poultry) from its regional field offices;
• Bags of rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA) for distribution as relief by local government units,
• Department of Social Welfare and Development and other relief agencies to families affected;
• Deployment of KADIWA stores to affected areas;
• P1 billion Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation and recovery of affected areas;
• P500 million for the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with up to P25,000 loanable amount, payable in three years at zero interest; and
  Indemnification of insured affected farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC)