(Eagle News) — Typhoon “Ompong” damaged P14.27 billion worth of agriculture after it destroyed more than half a million hectares of farmland, according to the Department of Agriculture.
The agricultural damage affected rice, corn, high value crops and livestock covering a total of 553,704 hectares. This has an estimated volume of production loss at 731,294 metric tons (MT).
The DA said that the rice sector had the largest share of losses since 397,204 hectares of rice fields which is equivalent to 435,997 MT or about nine days of the country’s total consumption had been laid to waste by the most powerful typhoon to hit the country this year.
Because of the large areas affected by Ompong — not only Northern Luzon but Central Luzon as well — were affected by its heavy rains and strong winds, partially damaging crops which were supposedly ready for harvest late September or early October.
The partially damaged rice crops affected a total of 212,491 farmers. Their losses were estimated at P8.97 billion.
Agriculture Secretary said that 90 percent of the corn production were affected by typhoon Ompong, and this may have a huge impact on the livestock and production which use corn for feeds.
Piñol said he planned to recommend more corn imports to make up for the production shortfall because of the damage wrought by Ompong.
He said that the rice sector could recover as the damage to rice was “3.6 days of national supply.”
He said that other parts of the country could make up for this as it is harvest season in the other areas not affected by Ompong.
Nueva Ecija reported the most damage in agriculture amounting to P2.84 billion, followed by Cagayan with P2.77 billion worth of damage to its agriculture.
Production losses were also reported in the corn-producing sector as reports come in from the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley.
Losses in high-value crops, and livestock were also reported.
The affected rice crops were in CAR, 9.91 percent of the total rice standing crops of the CAR, the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.
Corn production loss is at P4.5 billion covering 148,587 hectares in CAR and Cagayan Valley, with estimated production volume loss of 281,039 MT.
The loss in high-value crops amounted to P788.13 million affecting 7,913 hectares in CAR and the provinces of Rizal, Cagayan, and Isabela.
Meanwhile, livestock losses reported in CAR said the typhoon affected 20,316 animal heads (103 heads in livestock and 20,213 heads in poultry). The damage to livestock amounted to P5.51 million or 1.01 percent of the overall damage and losses.
Damage to irrigation facilities, on the other hand, amounted to P15.72 million. This included affected Small-Water Impounding Projects and impounding dams and spillways in Ilocos Norte. (Eagle News Service)