Odette’s agriculture damage reaches P176.4 million

MANILA, Philippines — Initial damage to agriculture due to Typhoon Odette reached P176.4 million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) - Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, 3,664 farmers and fishermen in Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas and Caraga regions were affected.

Volume production loss also stood at 10,229 metric tons covering 10,830 hectares of agricultural land.

“Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops and fisheries,” the DA said.

Rice accounted for 58.19 percent of the damage with a total affected area of 8.650 hectares and volume loss at 5,203 MT valued at P102.7 million.

Corn had a 39.09 percent share of the damage covering 2,150 hectares, with a volume loss of 4,926 MT valued at P68.9 million.

The DA also reported that 30 hectares of high value crops covering assorted vegetables were also part of the damage, with an estimated value at P2.3 million.

Damage to fisheries amounted to P2.5 million covering 290 fisherfolk.

The DA said it would provide at least P852.47 million worth of readily available assistance to farmers and fishers affected.

This includes P500 million worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas; P148-million worth of rice seeds, P57.6 million worth of corn seeds, P44.6 million worth of assorted vegetables; and P100 million under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC),
Some P1.64 million worth of fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and P625,150 worth of drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs from RFO V will also be available.