By Lilybeth Ison/PNA
MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) recorded an increase in the damages and losses brought about by Tropical Depression “Usman”, now a low pressure area (LPA) and has left the country, reaching PHP299.44 million.
In the latest bulletin of the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operation Center issued at 5 p.m. Monday, damage to rice crops alone was recorded at PHP266.98 million with 7,496 metric tons (MT) volume production loss.
The total affected areas planted to palay was 12,858 hectares and 9,622 farmers in the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Quezon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Samar.
The DA said there was no increase in damage recorded for corn. It remained at PHP976,267 million with 11 MT volume in production loss.
The total areas affected were 563 hectares and 276 corn farmers in Albay, Camarines Sur, and Masbate provinces.
On the other hand, there was an increase in damages recorded for high value crops, now pegged at PHP31.48 million of fruit trees, assorted vegetables, and root crops. Total volume production loss was at 2,098 MT on 441 hectares.
The total number of farmers affected were 1,333 in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, and Sorsogon.
The DA attributed the increase in overall values to the increase in damages on the rice and high value crops in Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon provinces.
