Super Typhoon Julian damage to agriculture at P607.38 M

The damage of Super Typhoon Julian to the agriculture sector in four regions has ballooned to P607.38 million, according to the Department of Agriculture.

According to the DA's operations' center, as of 8 a.m. yesterday, the losses reported were for rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, irrigation and agricultural facilities in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2) and Central Luzon (Region 3).

The DA said production loss reached 25,407 metric tons covering 17,344 hectares of agricultural areas and affecting 33,110 farmers.

"The volume of production losses from the affected agricultural areas is estimated at 21,875 MT for palay, 2,778 MT for corn and 755 MT for high-value crops," the DA said.

Based on the report of the DA, the bulk of the damage or about 70 percent was recorded with rice totaling P427.65 milwith rice totaling P427.65 million covering 14,950 hectares, followed by irrigation facilities at P92.68 million.

Meanwhile, the damage to corn plantations reached P38.95 million affecting 2,036 hectares; high-value crops, lion affecting 358 hectares; agricultural infrastructure, P13.22 million and livestock and poultry, P3.76 million.