May 30, 2024

Philippines' Department of Agriculture to provide aid to farmers, fishers affected by typhoon

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) is closely monitoring the agriculture sector and has assured aid for farmers and fishers affected by Typhoon Aghon.

Among the interventions are prepositioning of seeds for rice and corn, as well as drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry in safe storage facilities, according to the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center's Bulletin No. 3 issued on May 26.

DA regional field offices have been activated to conduct field monitoring for possible incurred damage, alongside close collaboration with other national and regional DRRM-related offices and local government unit counterparts.

In an earlier advisory, the DA advised farmers and fishers to minimise the effects of Aghon through early harvest.

"Harvest mature crops and utilise post-harvest facilities (and) perform early harvest and mobilise post-harvest equipment and facilities (for fishers)," the DA-DRRM said in Bulletin No. 2.

Likewise, farmers were urged to secure seed reserves, planting materials and farm inputs, relocate animals with adequate feeds and water, transfer farm machinery and equipment to higher ground, and clearing of drainage in irrigation and rice paddies to avoid flooding.

Fishers were told to refrain from sea travel and move their fishing vessels to higher ground.

- PNA