‘Pepeng’ deals double whammy on Isabela farmers

BAYOMBONG, Philippines – Two weeks after being placed under a state of calamity due to all-time low corn prices, farmers in the northern province of Isabela are now facing more misfortunes due to the onslaught of typhoon “Pepeng." Records from the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Isabela showed that farmers lost some P250 million in rice, corn and vegetable products during the past week. Pepeng’s first intrusion to the region last Saturday only partially damaged crops that were ready for harvest, but the typhoon’s return on Wednesday ravaged more farm lands and totally destroyed those that could still be salvaged from the fields. Provincial Agriculturist Danilo Tumamao said that before the recent calamity, some 17 percent from a total of 23,000 hectares of agricultural lands planted with corn remain to be harvested. The region-wide devastation caused by the typhoon has left the province with only 135,000 metric tons of still-to-be harvested corn worth a measly P3 million. On the other hand, some 67.4 percent or 89,192 hectares of palay has yet to be harvested from a total of 142,348 hectares planted by rice farmers with an estimated value of P230 million before the disaster came. The farmers’ dilemma started when Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap allegedly reneged from a previous promise he had made to farmers and provincial officials during his recent visit that the national government, through the National Food Authority (NFA), will purchase almost half of the region’s corn production. Officials of the Isabela Consumer Watch (ICW) claimed that the government’s non-stop importation of corn and feed wheat has resulted in the staggering drop in local corn buying prices in the region. It said that despite a good harvest in the province, the government still imported a million metric tons of wheat and some 200,000 metric tons of corn. During the middle of September, ICW reported that the oversupply of corn had caused a P5 slide in corn prices from a high of P12 per kg in only a year’s time, which, according to them, has resulted in thousands of metric tons of corn rotting inside warehouses of traders. Officials said Isabela’s crop losses is expected to affect the country’s rice supply. Isabela is the country’s prime supplier of palay and corn products. - GMANews.TV