6,000 Visayas farmers lost crops to ‘Tino’

SUBMERGED FIELDS This aerial photo on Nov. 5 shows the extent of the flood that inundated farmlands in Iloilo province, following torrential rains dumped by Typhoon “Tino” (Kalmaegi). —PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY WESTERN VISAYAS FACEBOOK PAGE

ILOILO CITY—Nearly 6,000 farmers in Western Visayas and nearby areas lost crops to Typhoon “Tino” (international name: Kalmaegi) that swept through the Visayan regions and Northern Mindanao on Oct. 4.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that agricultural damage caused by Typhoon Tino has reached an estimated P159.14 million, affecting 3,547 hectares (ha) of farmland, with 2,526 ha (71.22 percent) still having a chance of recovery and 1,021 ha (28.78 percent) considered beyond recovery.

In its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center Bulletin No. 6 released on Saturday, the DA said the typhoon’s total production loss was recorded at 6,578 metric tons (MT). Rice suffered the largest share of losses at P125.53 million, covering 3,006 ha of affected fields and 5,542 MT in production loss. High-value crops followed with P21.25 million, while corn losses were estimated at P10.23 million, cassava at P1.26 million and livestock and poultry at P452,960.

Damages to agricultural infrastructures, machinery and equipment were also noted at P400,500.

The DA said most of the rice crops were in their reproductive and maturity stages, while corn and vegetable losses occurred mainly during the vegetative phase.

ONCE A FIELD An aerial assessment on Nov. 6 shows vast portions of farmlands and communities in Mambusao and Sigma, Capiz still submerged in muddy floodwaters following the onslaught of Typhoon “Tino.” The damage reflects the storm’s heavy toll on agricultural and low-lying areas in Western Visayas. —OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE WESTERN VISAYAS FACEBOOK

Intervention

To aid recovery efforts, the DA has set aside P382 million worth of interventions for affected farmers and fishers.

These included P216.39 million worth of farm inputs, such as seeds for rice, corn and high-value crops; P1.12 million worth of animal feeds and supplements for livestock and poultry; P841,600 worth of bangus, tilapia and carp fingerlings; and 2.6 million bags of rice from the National Food Authority for distribution to local government units and relief agencies.

Financial and credit assistance will also be made available through the department’s support programs.

These included the quick response fund for rehabilitation and recovery, P22 million in funding under the Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, which offers up to P25,000 in loans per farmer at zero interest payable in three years, and P142.31 million in indemnification through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. for insured affected farmers.

As Typhoon Tino’s aftermath continued to affect parts of the Visayas and Negros Island, the DA assured that it remained on heightened alert and was working closely with its regional field offices to ensure that assistance is promptly delivered to farming communities recovering from the storm.