Farm damage hits P689.66M amid storms, habagat—DA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that agricultural damage from Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay, along with the enhanced southwest monsoon, has reached P689.66 million.

The latest reported damage in the farm sector nearly doubled from the previously reported P347.37 million by the agency on Wednesday.

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The weather disturbances affected 21,115 farmers in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas.

Storms damaged about 17,527 metric tons of farm produce and affected 19,634 hectares of land.

“Affected commodities include rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and agricultural infrastructures, machineries and equipment,” the DA said in its bulletin.

Rice was the most affected commodity, equivalent to 65.46 percent or P451.42 million of overall losses.

READ: DA: Storm, monsoon damage to agriculture hits P135.3M

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High-value crops, which include upland and lowland vegetables, spices, legumes, calamansi, citrus, durian, lanzones, papaya, rambutan, watermelon, banana, rootcrops and ornamental crops, followed with P147.30 million.

The DA expects further losses as it continues assessments and validation in affected regions. /pai