Typhoon Rolly crop damage tally raised to P2B
AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE caused by Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) is now estimated at P2 billion, up from the previous tally of P1.75 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In a virtual briefing Tuesday, DA Field Operations Service Director Roy M. Abaya said that the typhoon caused the loss of some 116,962 metric tons (MT) of produce, while 30,094 farmers and fisherfolk were affected. Damage was reported across 26,896 hectares of farmland.
The storm affected producers of rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, and fish, as well as various agricultural facilities.
Damage to the rice crop was estimated at P1.11 billion. Some 62,444 MT were lost across 20,013 hectares, while 19,280 farmers were affected.
Losses to high-value crops amounted to P791 million on volume of 50,581 MT. The storm affected 5,266 hectares of agricultural land and 9,673 farmers.
Damage to corn was valued at P68.92 million, aquaculture P17.76 million, capture fisheries P4.53 million, and livestock P269,520. Damage to agricultural facilities was tallied at P10.58 million.
At the briefing, Mr. Abaya said the total damage from the Typhoon Quinta, the storm preceding Rolly, amounted to P2.56 billion, with some 145,577 MT of lost produce. The typhoon affected 47,864 across 88,252 hectares.
This brought the combined damage estimates from the two typhoons to P4.56 billion, which is set to climb as further reports come in.
Lost production due to the two typhoons amounted to 262,539 MT across 115,148 hectares of farmland, with farmers and fisherfolk reporting damage at 77,958.
Mr. Abaya said the combined typhoon damage to the rice crop, currently at 170,000 MT, accounts for less than 1% of the annual target rice output of around 20 million MT.
“This is small. The country’s ending stocks of rice at the end of the year, ranging from 102 to 110 days’ (consumption) is more than enough. The impact is very minimal,” Mr. Abaya said.
According to the DA, affected farmers and fisherfolk can avail of assistance packages such as the P400-million quick response fund, the P300-million loan fund of the survival and recovery program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, and indemnification from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
