MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday assured aid to 7,677 affected farmers as agricultural damage hit PHP156.79 million due to the effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” and Typhoon Carina.
According to the DA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Bulletin 7, the department is ready to deploy regional personnel for the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers affected in Mimaropa, Western and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, and Caraga region.
These include 72,174 bags of rice seeds, 39,546 bags of corn seeds, and 59,600 pouches and 1,966 kg. of vegetable seeds.
"Best possible efforts are being undertaken to carry out assistance and appropriate interventions to the affected farmers," the DA-DRRM said.
They may also avail of the PHP25,000 worth of loan under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, with zero interest, payable in three years, as well as the activation of funds under the Quick Response Fund and Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.
To date, the highest agricultural damage was reported in rice production with about 856 metric tons (MT) of volume loss worth PHP145.36 million, according to the DA-DRRM.
The damage in high-value crops followed, amounting to PHP8.5 million, with PHP2.85 million worth of losses in corn production, and PHP80,900 worth of losses for 2,323 livestock heads. (PNA)
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