Successive typhoons to cut rice production - DA

The successive typhoons in the country in the past weeks will result in lower rice production until the end of the year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

"Our (agriculture) sector was severely affected by the successive calamities and typhoons, especially our crops. We expect that the local production will go down starting from the third quarter and will be extended until the fourth quarter," Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said.

The combined damage caused by Tropical Cyclones Kristine and Leon to the agriculture sector has reached P9.8 billion, apart from the damage from Cyclone Nika, which reached P248.47 million, according to the latest report of the DA.