Kristine damage to agriculture reaches P3.4 B

The amount of damage to agriculture caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine has reached P3.4 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture.

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The amount of damage to agriculture caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine has reached P3.4 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The DA gave assurance that farmers displaced by the storm would receive nancial assistance.

Kristine destroyed 76,785 hectares of farm lands, with over a third or 28,885 hectares having no chance to recover.

Up to 174,087 tons of agricultural crops were lost to the storm, affecting 79,904 farmers.

Rice production incurred the highest amount of damage with P3.1 billion or 164,510 tons in volume losses.

The DA said over 28,000 hectares of high-value crops were wasted. Most of these crops were in reproductive and maturity stages and not due yet for harvest.

Corn incurred P43.34 million in losses and high-value crops P161.44 million.

Damage to irrigation facilities reached P26 million, with P43.36 million for other farm structures such as diversion dams, rain shelters, greenhouses, animal houses and administrative buildings.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the DA is still assessing the damage to farm lands, especially rice fields.

He said 70 percent of palay had been harvested before Kristine arrived and destroyed the farms.