Crop damage due to drought hits P11 billion as of March 1

MANILA, Philippines – Crop damage due to the ongoing drought has climbed to P11.19 billion as of March 1 from the P7.02 billion reported as of Feb. 22, according to the latest report prepared by the Department of Agriculture’s Central Action Center (DACAC).

The DA has earlier projected that the drought would result in crop damages worth from P8 to P20 billion.

Damage to corn crops has reached P6 billion, while palay or paddy rice damage is now at P5.08 billion.

Damage to high-value commercial crops (HVCC) is at a more manageable P115 million.

DACAC also reported some damage to the fisheries sector amounting to P943,440.

For Isabela alone, crop damage has been estimated at P3.88 billion. For Iloilo, palay damage is placed at P1.2 billion and for Ifugao, corn damage has reached to P1.1 billlion.

Damage to rice/palay crops amounts to 298,852 metric tons, while affected corn crops amount to 460,848 MT.

Two weeks ago, Agriculture Undersecretary Joel Rudinas reported that crop damage was at P3.77 billion. It was “still within out target.”

Rudinas is currently in Isabela and could not be reached for comment on the latest figures.

The brunt of the drought being brought about by the El Niño phenomenon is being experienced by provinces in Luzon and the Visayas.

Damage to corn crops is of particular concern to hog and poultry growers who rely on the grains as a major raw material for animal feeds. –Marianne V. Go (The Philippine Star)