August 1, 2024

 

Mindanao, Philippines agricultural damage reaches US$6.4 million

Mindanao, Philippines, has reported agricultural damage amounting to at least PHP 378.4 million (US$8.6 million) following torrential rains that affected a large section of the island last week, according to local government reports, Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

 

Officials from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) reported that as of July 21, assessments indicated PHP 323.4 million (US$5.5 million) in agricultural damage. The floods have devastated approximately 8,388 hectares of croplands, impacting the livelihoods of around 10,952 farmers.

 

The worst-hit area is Maguindanao del Sur, where around 2,736 families are currently residing in 24 evacuation centres. Floodwaters, which persisted for at least three days, submerged communities and farms across 17 of the province's 22 towns.

 

Due to the extensive flooding, Maguindanao del Sur has been placed under a state of calamity.

 

In addition to Maguindanao del Sur, flooding has also affected Maguindanao del Norte, Basilan, several towns in the Special Geographic Area formerly part of Cotabato province, and the regional capital, Cotabato City.

 

In Zamboanga City, authorities have reported crop losses totalling at least PHP 52.5 million (US$899,000) and PHP 2.5 million (US$42,000) in damage to aquaculture and seaweed farms due to last week's floods and landslides. However, local leaders have declined earlier proposals to declare a state of calamity, stating that the local government has sufficient resources to manage the situation.

 

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that damage and losses from Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the enhanced southwest monsoon have reached PHP 156.79 million (US$2.6 million), affecting over 7,000 farmers. The DA's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Centre noted that the data was sourced from its field offices in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, and Caraga regions.

 

The total production losses amounted to 1,096 metric tonnes (MT) across 8,821 hectares of affected farmland, with 45% of these losses considered irrecoverable. Corn production losses totalled PHP 2.85 million (US$48,800) for 21 MT, while high-value crops suffered damages amounting to PHP 8.5 million (US$145,000).

 

The DA has announced that it will provide thousands of bags of rice, corn, and vegetable seeds to affected farmers. Additionally, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council's survival and recovery loan program will be activated, offering loans up to PHP 25,000 (US$428). Quick response funds are also being prepared for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

 

-      Philippine Daily Inquirer