Farm damage from ‘Tino’ hits P2.5B

FILE PHOTO: 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

Typhoon “Tino” (international name: Kalmaegi) destroyed P2.49 billion worth of agricultural produce, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

The DA’s final tally on “Tino” showed that the weather disturbance affected 120,361 farmers across eight regions. These include Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western, Eastern and Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen and Caraga.

“Affected commodities include rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, coconut, fiber crops, fisheries, agricultural infrastructures and machinery and equipment,” the agency said.

About 91,260 metric tons (MT) of farm produce were damaged, covering 37,885 hectares of land.

High-value crops accounted for 47.85 percent of the total damage, amounting to P1.19 billion. Affected crops include lowland and upland vegetables, spices, legumes, fruits, root crops, coffee and cacao.

Rice comprised 28.66 percent or P712.43 million in losses, mostly in the reproductive and maturity stages.

Livestock and poultry damage reached P282.71 million or 11.37 percent of the total. These include chicken, swine, cattle, carabao, goat, duck, sheep, turkey, horse, quail and guinea fowl.

Amid a temporary import ban and successive typhoons, DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa gave assurance that the country has sufficient rice supply. He cited favorable harvest conditions in the latter part of this year.

Pending the release of full-year government data on the production of palay (unmilled rice), De Mesa said the country might surpass the record palay output of 20.06 million MT set in 2023.

“Despite the import ban, the country’s rice supply remains adequate. Even with the typhoons, we expect our harvest to be good until the end of the year. There is a possibility that we could surpass the 2023 record harvest,” he said in an interview with DZBB over the weekend.

De Mesa said the country’s closing rice inventory is expected to reach the low end of the DA’s target, at around 80 to 85 days. National rice consumption is estimated at 37,000 MT per day.

He also said rice supply and prices are expected to be more stable by next year. This is based on the resumption of rice imports in January and the upcoming harvest in March.

“Because we expect a strong harvest and the next harvest season in March to April is approaching, plus imports are coming in, rice prices and supply are expected to become more stable,” he added.