Agri chief Alcala: Damage to crops and livestock minimal at P150M 

The farm sector sustained P150 million worth of damage from the combined impact of Typhoon Gener and the southwest monsoon that spawned heavy rainfall in most parts of Luzon including Metro Manila.

 

The Department of Agriculture reported Wednesday the damage to crops and livestock was “minimal,” even though some rice fields were devastated – but only up to P131.49 million worth of standing crops damaged.   

 

Damages were “minimal” in agricultural crops and fisheries – totaling P150 million – as heavy rains from Typhoon Gener and a subsequent southwest monsoon dampened the country’s agricultural output, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

 

The corn sector sustained P7.74 million worth of devastation, high value crops at P10.62 million, and fisheries at P2.28 million, the department noted.

 

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told GMA News Online the most recent damage to the sector pales in comparison with the P6.66 billion worth of crops and animals wasted by Storm Ondoy in September 2009.

 

An estimated 26,000 hectares were affected by the heavy rains and flood, but the absence of strong winds toned down the extent of damage, said Alcala.

 

“Merong rainfall pero walang hangin. Kapag walang hangin, na-pa-flood lang ang crops na parang nadidiligan pero nagsusubside din siya,” the Agriculture chief noted.

 

There is a chance that more than 90 percent or 24,032 hectares land planted to rice, corn, and vegetables – most of which are still in the seedling stage – will recover, Alcala said.

 

In Isabela, heavy rains merely watered the corn fields that the crops were hardly damaged, Alcala cited.

 

About 3,355 metric tons of rice in 25,000 hectares were affected by rain, and only 7 percent or 1,900 hectares were completely damaged.

 

In 21 hectares of corn fields, about 666 MT could not be recovered anymore, the department said.

 

High value crops estimated at 733 MT in 143 hectares in Benguet, La Union, and Pangasinan were affected. Only one hectare of  high value crops was totally destroyed..

 

Losses in fish ponds in Pangasinan and Cagayan reached P2.28 million, according to the Agriculture Department.

 

Alcala said the damage to crops would hardly impact on the country’s rice stock.

 

The department is still assessing field data on damage to infrastructure.

 

 “The DA is continuing to gather reports with concerned local government units on production losses as well as damage to infrastructures that are caused by the on-going southwest monsoon,” the department noted. — VS, GMA News