AT least P2.11-million worth of agricultural products have been damaged due to the onslaught of typhoon Auring in Caraga region.
In its Bulletin No. 6, the Department of Agriculture said the typhoon has affected some 139 farmers with 309 hectares of agricultural areas.
Affected commodities include rice, corn, assorted vegetables and fisheries of which the affected crops are on their seedling to vegetative stages. The DA said that these values are still subject to validation.
The DA, meanwhile, said that due to its early advisory issued prior to the landfall of TD “AURING“, a total area of 12,538 hectares of rice have been harvested from Regions III, IV-A, IV-B, VIII and X with an equivalent production of 71,840 metric tons amounting to PhP 1.31-billion.
As for corn, a total of 3,201 hectares have been harvested from Regions IV-A, IV-B, V, VI and XI with an equivalent production of 6,296 metric tons amounting to PhP 94.42M.
The DA also disclosed that the amount of PhP 5.44 million worth of interventions is available from DA Regional Field Office (RFO) Caraga for early recovery of farmers and fisherfolk affected by the typhoon. Other available assistance for affected farmers and fisherfolk include the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas; Rice seeds (51,070 bags), corn seeds (7,029 bags) and assorted vegetable seeds (17,576 kgs) from Regions III, IV-A, IV-B, VI, VIII, IX, XI, XII and XIII; and Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs.
Also the DA will provide fish stocks from Regions XI and XIII amounting to a total of P1.48 billion; Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC); and enough funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers.
The DA added that it is in close coordination with concerned LGUs and other DRRM-related offices for the impact of “AURING“; as well as with water management-related agencies for flood risk monitoring and dam water release. Close monitoring is also on-going for further damage and losses that may be incurred in the agri-fisheries sector.
