Odette’s damage to agriculture topped 11 billion pesos, according to DA GMA News Online

Damage from the Typhoon Odette attack in the Visayas and Mindanao in mid-December last year topped 11 billion pesos, according to data released Thursday by the Agriculture Ministry.

Damage to agriculture from Typhoon Odette has passed the 11 billion pesos mark, the agriculture ministry said. pic.twitter.com/LGew1164fk

– Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) January 6, 2022

The latest data released by DA showed that damage and losses in the crop sector from the typhoon amounted to 11.1 billion pesos.

The calamity affected 389,316 farmers and fishermen, with a volume of production loss of 252,956 metric tons (MT) and 420,465 hectares of agricultural areas in CALABARZON, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula , Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga.

Agricultural products destroyed by the disaster include rice, corn, high-value crops, coconuts, sugar cane, livestock and fishing.

In addition, the DA noted that damage was also suffered in infrastructure, machinery and agricultural equipment.

“These values ​​are subject to validation. Additional damage and losses are expected in areas affected by Odette, ”he said.

The agency has set aside $ 2.9 billion in aid to provide to farmers and fishermen affected by Odette, broken down into:

• 1 billion pesos of rapid response funds (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas
• 828 million pula from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to compensate affected farmers
• 500 million pesos under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) Survival and Recovery Assistance Program (SURE) for 20,000 farmers and fishermen at 25,000 pesos each
• 314 million pesos of rice seeds, 129 million pesos of corn seeds and 57 million pesos of assorted vegetables
• Aid worth 47 million pesos to affected fishermen by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
• P 6.6 million in stocks of animals, medicines and biologicals for livestock and poultry
• Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Funds Available

The DA said that a total area of ​​11,454 hectares of rice land has been harvested in Mimaropa, VI, VIII, IX, XI and XIII regions with an equivalent production of 34,433 metric tons amounting to 615.53 million. of pesos before Odette’s arrival.

As for maize, a total of 2,452 hectares were harvested in regions IV-A, Mimaropa, VIII, IX, XI and XIII with an equivalent production of 6,965 metric tons amounting to 82.55 million pesos, a he indicated.

The Agriculture Department said its regional field offices (RFOs) were carrying out a damage and loss assessment in the agro-fishing sector.

“The DA constantly coordinates with the NGAs (national government agencies), LGUs (local government units) and other DRRM (disaster risk reduction and management) related offices for the impact of Odette, as well as that the resources available for interventions and assistance ”It said. —LBG, GMA News