The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Typhoon Karding’s damage to agriculture is nearly P3 billion.
DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center’s (DRRM) estimates showed that the total value of production loss because of Karding is at P2.95 billion as of 8 a.m., Sept. 30.
The typhoon destroyed crops across 164,217 hectares of farm lands in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas. The damage affected 103,552 farmers and fisherfolk with a total volume of production loss at 154,734 metric tons (MT).
The DA said rice is the most affected crop with total damage amounting to P2.02 billion across 159,251 hectares of rice fields ravaged, and total volume loss of 133,294 MT.
Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and spices are the second most damaged crop group with total value loss of P754.8 million and volume of crops destroyed at 18,536 MT across 2,964 hectares of farm lands.
Meanwhile, damage to fisheries, such as produce, boats and gears is estimated at P75.2 million.
Moreover, livestock and poultry posted P12.8 million worth of losses since 48,183 livestock and poultry animals died during the typhoon.
The DA also said that it will make the following steps to aid affected farmers and fisherfolk:
- P185.69 million worth of rice seeds, P23.16 million worth of corn seeds and PhP 13.55 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 fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
- Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with 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
— Ronald Espartinez