THE CITY Agriculturist’s Office (CAgrO) assisted 200 farmers affected by flooding and landslides due to the shear line weather phenomenon experienced last week.
During the iSpeak forum on Jan. 25, city agriculturist Edgardo Haspe placed the initial cost of damage recorded in Davao City at P4,279,619.
“Initial pa ni siya kay ongoing pa pud ang amoang assessment sa mga lagyong bukid,” Haspe said.
A total of 54.62 hectares were damaged in the city, particularly 30.53 hectares for the totally damaged and 24.05 hectares for the partially damaged. Partially damaged areas were mostly rice fields in Dacudao, Calinan Poblacion, and Lacson, Calinan District.
Haspe said they initially assisted 24 Calinan rice farmers with major yield losses, 39 corn farmers in Marilog, Buhangin, and Tugbok, 136 high-value crops farmers (banana, coconut, commercial crops) situated in Marilog, Tugbok, Buhangin, Bunawan, and Paquibato, and a cassava farmer in Tugbok District.
“Gikan pud ni last year ang gihatag nato nga seeds, katong mga gi-procure last year, out of the budget provided through the local disaster fund, around P10 million, gipalit og seeds and fertilizers for the farmers,” Haspe said.
Most flood-affected rice farmers were enrolled in the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), making them eligible for indemnity insurance of P20,000/hectare of destroyed rice fields.
Affected corn farmers and producers of high-value crops will also receive assistance through farming supplies such as seeds, seedlings, plantlets, and fertilizers.
However, Haspe warned that those affected by the landslides will not be given planting materials since they received repeated warnings against replanting on unstable land for their own safety.
Aside from immediate livelihood assistance, the CAgrO will also submit its report to the City Social Welfare and Development Office and recommend the distribution of cash assistance to affected farmers.
He also urged farmers to avail of all services and assistance the office has for them.
