- P1.19 billion agri-damage in Davao region: DA XI
THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) XI reported a total of P1.19 billion in agricultural damage and losses due to heavy rainfall and flooding caused by the consecutive occurrence of the shear line and low-pressure area across Davao Region.
During the Agribiz forum, Joedel Leliza, DA XI Disaster Risk Reduction and Management focal person, said Davao del Norte bore the brunt of the damage, with a total of P229 million in farm losses, particularly in high-value crops (banana) and rice production.
Leliza noted a total of 28,000 farmers were affected and 20,000 hectares of agricultural area were damaged.
He said Davao del Norte recorded the highest total damage area when it comes to high-value crops, particularly bananas, as they decided to chop down banana trunks to avoid infectious diseases.
“You know, once mabahaan ang area labaw na sa Davao del Norte nga grabe ang concentration sa panama disease, once na mabahaan ang area, naa ju’y possibility nga naa’y mahitabong infection didto. Most probably ang ginabuhat nila is i-totally damaged nalang nila kay ilaha manang i-chop ang uban aron mananom nalang sila og balik or mag-convert to other crops,” Leliza said.
He said the department continues to provide seeds from their buffer stacking program, ongoingly delivered rice and corn, and had initially provided 50 boxes of seeds for high-value crops, especially to those who are severely affected.
Leliza said the buffer seeds they have provided will not be enough to cover the totally affected areas, as they only have 7,000 boxes of seeds remaining which will only cover around 3,500 hectares of agricultural area.
He said they are to request a Quick Response Fund from the national agency if everything is already processed.
DA XI regional director Abel James Monteagudo also stressed the challenges brought by the calamities in terms of the region’s food security, particularly on rice.
“Our region does not produce so much rice, we only produce aron 54% sufficiency level. Short na tayo dati, at kung masalanta pa tayo ng bagyo, baha o El Nino, mas lalong bababa yung ating sufficiency,” he said.
DA XI continues to identify interventions and address the damage experienced by the farmers in the region.
