Over a billion pesos worth of damage to agricultural land and poultry has been caused by Tropical Storm Florita.
The Department of Agriculture's (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DRRM) showed that the estimated damage and losses jumped from ₱19.10 million to ₱1.13 billion.
“The increase in overall damage and losses is due to additional reports on rice, corn, high-value crops, and livestock in all affected regions,” the DA-DRRM said on its website yesterday.
As a result of the weather disturbance, 6,647 farmers were affected by the tropical storm, and nearly 45, 000 hectares of agricultural land in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Bicol Region suffered a loss of production of 66,633 metric tons (MT).
Meat, poultry, high-value crops, rice, and corn are some of the commodities that were affected.
The DA-DRRM stated that these values are subject to validation.
DA is evaluating the losses and damage caused by Florita in the Agri-fisheries sector through its Regional Field Offices (RFOs).
The department also continuously collaborates with concerned local government units (LGUs), national government agencies, and other DRRM-related offices to assess the typhoon's impact and the resources that are available for interventions and assistance.
DA-DRRM announce the following assistance for affected farmers and fishermen:
•69,046 bags of rice seeds, 3,840 bags of corn seeds, and 600 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds from affected regions
•Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry
•Fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
•Survival and Recovery (SURE) Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC)
•Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas
The DA-DRRM declared that it will keep the public updated on Florita's damages in the country.
Tags: #DA, #Tropical Storm, #damage to agriculture