Agricultural damage from back-to-back typhoons reach P1.27B  

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DAMAGE caused by typhoon Jolina (international name: Conson) to the country’s agriculture sector increased to P1.26 billion, compared to the prior estimate of P633.36 million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).  

The succeeding typhoon, locally named Kiko (international name: Chanthu), caused damage to the sector worth P9.84 million based on DA estimates as of Sept. 13.   

In a bulletin released Tuesday noon, the DA said a total of 46,931 farmers and 27,051 hectares of agricultural areas in Central Luzon, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas were affected by Jolina.    

The typhoon also caused 45,558 metric tons (MT) of lost production volume, with losses recorded in rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, fisheries, and irrigation and agricultural facilities.    

Damage to rice was valued at P546.3 million with 35,153 MT of produce lost.    

Fisheries losses amounted to P421.6 million, which consisted of damaged fishing boats and gears, and lost produce.    

High-value crops losses totaled P183.5 million while damage to corn reached P77.4 million.    

Other losses include P28.4 million for irrigation and agricultural facilities, and P2.8 million for livestock and poultry.    

Typhoon Kiko, meanwhile, affected 680 farmers and 777 hectares of production areas in Cagayan, Bataan, and Nueva Ecija.  

The typhoon also caused 339 MT of production volume loss, with damaged commodities including rice, corn, and high-value crops.    

Damage to rice was valued at P5.47 million while losses to high-value crops reached P3.63 million. Corn damage totaled P739,190. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave