Damage to agricultural sector caused by ‘Odette’ reaches 2.2 billion pesos

MANILA, Philippines – Damage to the agricultural sector from Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) has been estimated at 2.2 billion pesos and the Department of Agriculture expects the total loss increases in the next few days.

In its latest bulletin, the DA said the strongest typhoon to hit the country affected 33,899 in the regions of Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao and Caraga .

This resulted in a loss of production of 62,215 metric tonnes of agricultural products, affecting 51,182 hectares of agricultural areas.

Products affected include rice, maize, high value crops, livestock and fisheries. Odette also damaged infrastructure, machinery and agricultural equipment.

The rice sector recorded more than half of the total losses at 1.3 billion pesos, with a volume of production loss of 55,774 MT, covering 48,257 hectares.

The fishing sector was also affected after recording 855.6 million pesos in damage covering 3,544 fishermen. It affected fishery products, fishing boats and gear, fishing nets and gillnets.

The maize sector suffered damage of 78.9 million pesos, loss of production amounting to 5,594 MT and the affected area was 2,611 hectares.

Losses for high-value crops amounted to 17.2 million pesos covering 314 hectares. He touched an assortment of vegetables, cocoa and bananas.

Irrigation and agricultural facilities suffered damage worth 4.3 million pesos (shallow well, rain shelter, nursery, greenhouse, vermi-composting facilities and fertilizer processing center).

Cattle and poultry wiped out 3.4 million pesos in value, or the equivalent of 3,151 head. Chicken, pork, carabao and duck were affected.

Meanwhile, the losses of machinery and equipment amounted to 418,800 P, covering the disinfectant applicator and the forage chopper.

The agriculture department said at least 1.75 billion pesos in readily available aid will be given to affected farmers and fishermen.

VED

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