Rice bears brunt as monsoon, cyclones push agri losses to P2.32 billion

National

RICE accounted for nearly 60 percent of the P2.32 billion in agricultural damage caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon and three tropical cyclones, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The agency said on Thursday, Aug. 28, that the combined impact of the weather disturbances has so far affected 69,615 farmers and fishers across eight regions, with damage assessments still underway.

The latest tally is 21.5 percent higher than the P1.91 billion in losses reported by the DA on Monday.

The affected regions are Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Western Visayas.

About 60,896 metric tons of agricultural products were damaged, covering 62,732 hectares of agricultural areas, the DA said.

Rice losses amounted to P1.39 billion, equivalent to 59.74 percent of the total. Most of the affected rice crops were in their vegetative and reproductive stages.

High-value crops accounted for another P692.21 million in losses, or 29.83 percent of the overall damage.

“Further damage and losses are expected in affected regions as assessment and validation are ongoing,” the DA said in its advisory, as quoted by Inquirer.net.(MyTVCebu)