Floods destroy crops worth P820 million
09/28/2009 | 11:23 PM
Crops worth P820 million – including 45.74 million metric tons of rice – were damaged by floods brought about by storm ‘Ondoy,’ an updated government report made on Monday evening said.
Corn losses amounted to 482 metric tons of seedlings estimated to be worth P8.38 million, said the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) agriculture field unit.
Similarly, some P23.85 million worth of high value commercial crops were also destroyed in the provinces of Cagayan, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal.
An earlier report made on the same day indicated that rice, the country’s main staple, incurred losses worth P490 million. For the second half of the year, the government expects rice production to reach 6.47 million metric tons.
Region IV-A – an area known as Calabarzon [Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon] – was the hardest hit, posting losses of 13,603 metric tons of rice.
The figure is estimated to reach 8.75 percent of the expected harvest from October to December.
In Regions II and III, 12,007 and 3,022 metric tons of palay respectively, were destroyed as floods engulfed these areas.
Five hundred and forty-one hectares in regions II, III, and IV-A which were planted with high value commercial crops were also deluged by ‘Ondoy,’ the DA report said.
Moreover, 546 hectares in region IV-A which were planted with vegetables were also submerged in floods, including a 15-hectare mango plantation in Zambales.
Despite the damage, the government said that the food prices and supplies will remain stable.
“The problem is the logistics," said Agricultural Statistics director Romeo Recide said.
Flooded roads not only delay relief operations but also hamper transportation of goods, he added, noting that the Botolan Road en route Zambales remains impassable.
As of Sunday, the National Food Authority gave out 9,520 bags of rice to affected regions. - GMANews.TV
Corn losses amounted to 482 metric tons of seedlings estimated to be worth P8.38 million, said the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) agriculture field unit.
Similarly, some P23.85 million worth of high value commercial crops were also destroyed in the provinces of Cagayan, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal.
An earlier report made on the same day indicated that rice, the country’s main staple, incurred losses worth P490 million. For the second half of the year, the government expects rice production to reach 6.47 million metric tons.
Region IV-A – an area known as Calabarzon [Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon] – was the hardest hit, posting losses of 13,603 metric tons of rice.
The figure is estimated to reach 8.75 percent of the expected harvest from October to December.
In Regions II and III, 12,007 and 3,022 metric tons of palay respectively, were destroyed as floods engulfed these areas.
Five hundred and forty-one hectares in regions II, III, and IV-A which were planted with high value commercial crops were also deluged by ‘Ondoy,’ the DA report said.
Moreover, 546 hectares in region IV-A which were planted with vegetables were also submerged in floods, including a 15-hectare mango plantation in Zambales.
Despite the damage, the government said that the food prices and supplies will remain stable.
“The problem is the logistics," said Agricultural Statistics director Romeo Recide said.
Flooded roads not only delay relief operations but also hamper transportation of goods, he added, noting that the Botolan Road en route Zambales remains impassable.
As of Sunday, the National Food Authority gave out 9,520 bags of rice to affected regions. - GMANews.TV
