Crop damage from Super Typhoon Odette reaches P59.54M – Agri Dept.

Philippines suffered P59.54 million worth of farm damage from Super Typhoon Odette, the Department of Agriculture said Tuesday, citing the Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1, 2, 4B and 5 as the areas most affected in Northern Luzon.

 

The most damaged crops were rice, corn, vegetables, and bananas, the department noted. The typhoon affected 13,491 hectares of agriculture lands, 141 hectares of which will have no chance of recovery, it added.

 

Region 2 suffered production losses estimated at P25.91 million, then Region 1 at P20.75 billion.

 

Agriculture Undersecretary for field operations Dante Delima said the areas affected were 

Crops that were maturing and in the early stages of development were damaged.

 

The loss from palay production was placed at P45.43 million, involving 2,630 metric tons (MT) of the commodity in 13, 290 hectares of which 77 hectares were completely lost.

 

Delima said the National Food Authority will help farmers dry paddy rice that could be still be saved and provide seeds for replanting.

 

The corn sector lost an estimated P372, 600 involving 12 MT of the commodity, with seven hectares of corn crops damaged beyond recovery, the department said.

 

Damaged vegetable crops reached P2.27 million equivalent to 155 MT of produce in 51 hectares of cultivated areas. At least 28 hectares of crops were completely lost.

 

Banana farms lost an estimated 28 MT of the produce valued at P555,000, with all five hectares of the damaged plantation having a good chance of recovery, the department noted. 

 

The typhoon barreled through Northern Luzon over the weekend. – VS, GMA News