MikeLigalig.com

By Lilybeth G. Ison

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday placed at P152.13 million initial damage to agriculture affecting some 25,958 hectares of farm lands in 20 provinces in Luzon and the Visayas -- Regions 1, 2, 3, 6, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

This was attributed to typhoon "Gener" and the southwest monsoon.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Joel Rudinas, in a report submitted to DA Secretary Proceso Alcala, said the rice sector incurred the biggest loss valued at P131.49 million planted to 24,780 hectares in 18 provinces.

Rudina, however, said most of the affected crops were in the seedling/vegetative stage and with chance to recover.

Deemed lost were placed at 3,355 metric tons (MT) of palay from the 3,902 hectares in reproductive/maturity stage.

"Only 1,904 hectares were completely damaged while 22,876 hectares have chance to recover," said Rudinas.

Cagayan Province suffered the biggest loss valued at P36 million, followed by Pampanga at P32 million, Bulacan at P26 million, and Bataan at P14 million.

For the corn sector, initial damage was valued at P7.74 million affecting some 1,035 hectares in six provinces, which are mostly with chances of recovery.

Deemed lost were some 666 MT corn from the 574 hectares in reproductive stage.

Rudinas said most affected were the provinces of Cagayan and Kalinga. Around 20 hectares were reported completely damaged.

On the other hand, damage to high value crops was placed at P10.62 million and fisheries at P2.28 million.

Rudinas said high value crops damage were reported in Benguet, La Union and Pangasinan provinces with total volume at 733 MT planted to 143 hectares.

However, he said of the total areas affected for the high value crops, only one hectare was "with no chance to recover."

Meanwhile, Rudinas said effects to fisheries were reported in the provinces of Pangasinan and Cagayan due to damaged fishponds and fish cages. - pna

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