A drone shot of rice fields submerged in flood following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Tram) in Camarines Sur on Wednesday (Oct. 23, 2024). The Department of Agriculture has recorded P80.80 million worth of damage to agriculture in four regions, affecting 2,864 farmers. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Naga City Government via PNA
Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) caused P80.8 million in losses to the agriculture sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported.
The storm affected 2,864 farmers across Cordillera, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Western Visayas, according to the DA’s bulletin on Thursday afternoon.
READ: Severe Tropical Storm Kristine kills over 20 in Bicol, hits 12 regions
The volume of production loss is estimated at 5,287 metric tons covering 1,570 hectares of agricultural land.
“As field assessments continue, further damage and losses are anticipated, potentially impacting additional commodities,” the DA said.
The agency has prepared various interventions for those affected:
- P80.21 million worth of agricultural inputs (rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, drugs and biologics for livestocks) from DA Regional Field Offices CAR, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, and VIII;
- Up to P25,000 loanable amount from the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), payable in three years at zero interest; and
Indemnification of insured affected farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC)