Typhoon Lando aftermath: Agriculture damage rises to P6.4 B

MANILA, Philippines - The cost of damage to agriculture in areas affected by Typhoon Lando has risen to P6.4 billion with the rice subsector sustaining the most damage, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported yesterday.

Damage incurred on rice soared to P5.7 billion with 383, 668 metric tons of production (MT) lost. Damaged were 272, 006 hectares, 269, 694 hectares of which have chances of recovery.

Losses incurred on corn crops reached P88.32 million with 5,954 MT of produce lost. Affected were 13, 051 hectares, 12,634 hectares which may still recover.

The value of damage to high value crops is now placed at P528.9 million with 21,836 MT of produce lost. Affected were 4,233 hectares of cultivation area, 2,808 hectares of which may still recover.

The fisheries subsector sustained damages valued at P20.96 million while the livestock subsector sustained damages valued at P3.9 billion.

Edilberto de Luna,  Agriculture Assistant Secretary, said the department has prepositioned rice and corn seeds for distribution to farmers. It is also prepared to procure additional vegetable seeds.

For his part, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said affected rice cultivation areas would still be able to recover in time for the January and February harvest if farmers could replant immediately.

In a related development, the National Food Authority (NFA) said it is reinforcing rice stocks in areas affected by the typhoon.

The NFA office in Region 3 has released a total of 1,167 bags of rice in the province of Aurora as early as Oct. 17 for relief purposes. A total of 4,202 bags of rice were released by the agency to all other provinces in Central Luzon.

Prepositioned rice stocks in Region 3 would be sufficient for 19 days consumption.

Some 32,189 bags of rice had also been released by the NFA since Friday in affected areas in Regions 1 to 5 and the National Capital Region.