Agricultural losses from El Nino reach P7.97 B
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 29 May 2019 12:10:42 +0000
Agricultural losses caused by the El Nino phenomenon have reached P7.97 billion with rice and corn as the most affected crops as of April, the Department of Agriculture announced yesterday.
Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan said the El Nino dry condition has damaged 277,888 hectares of farmlands, including rice, corn, and high value crop plantations, and affected 247,618 farmers and fisher folk.
Rice losses hit P4.04 billion with 140,387 farmers and 144,202 hectares affected as of April 30, according to Cayanan. The volume loss was estimated at 191,761 metic tons or a 0.96 drop in target annual crop production.
The areas with highest rice damage are Cagayan at P651.24 million, Camarines Sur at P501.59 million, and Palawan at P316.08 million.
Damage to corn, on the other hand, was pegged at P3.89 billion, affecting 133,007 hectares of farmland and 105,937 farmers. These could have yielded 254,766 metric tons or 2.95 annual corn production target.
Cagayan, Apayao, and Isabela were reportedly among the provinces that had highest corn damage.
“The staple food – I’m referring to rice and corn – rice as our staple food and corn being the food and the feed crop ay malaki po ang naging epekto,” Cayanan said during a Palace press briefing.
High value crops damage reached P27.8 million, affecting 679 hectares and 1,156 farmers. The provinces with highest high value crop damage are Apayao, Occidental Mindoro, and Bukidnon.
“Doon sa assorted vegetable po natin na naapektuhan were the following: Squash, sitaw, eggplant, pechay, ampalaya, upo, tomato, sweet potato, okra, hot pepper, mung bean, onion, garlic, and snap beans. Ano po ang common denominator? These are considered to be the cash crop,” Cayanan said. (Genalyn Kabiling)