Agri damage due to Karding soars to P1.97 billion

The damage and losses incurred by the agriculture sector following the onslaught of Typhoon Karding have risen to nearly P2 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Wednesday.

According to the latest estimates from the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DRRM), the value of production loss amounted to P1.97 billion as of 9 a.m. on September 28, up from P1.29 billion as of Tuesday afternoon.

Karding ravaged a total of 148,091 hectares of agricultural land in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol Region.
 
The calamity affected some 88,520 farmers and fisherfolk, with a combined volume of production loss of 114,446 metric tons (MT).
 
Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries. 
 
These values are subject to validation, according to the DA.
 
“The increase in overall damage and losses is due to additional reports on rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, and fisheries in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Bicol Region,” it said.
 
The DA said its Regional Field Offices (RFOs) are conducting assessments of damage and losses to the agri-fisheries sector.
 
The agency said the following assistance is available for distribution to affected farmers and fishers:
 
-P170.34 million worth of rice seeds, P23.16 million worth of corn seeds, and P13.55 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds
-P2.45 million worth of animal heads, drugs, and biologics for livestock and poultry
-Fingerlings and fishing paraphernalia to affected fishermen from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
-Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with a loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest
-P500 million worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas
-Mobile KADIWA centers for rolling out in areas affected by Karding to stabilize prices and supply of agri-fishery commodities
 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development also said it has allocated P1.1 billion for its disaster response and assistance to those hit by the typhoon.

Karding left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday, affecting several areas in Luzon and killing at least 10 people. —VBL, GMA News