by Jel Santos, Manila Bulletin
The agricultural damage wrought by super typhoon Karding has reached P1.29 billion, according to the latest data released by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
Based on the DA’s Bulletin No. 5 that was issued at 1 p.m., the areas covered in the estimate are Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol Region.
Affected by Karding’s devastation are 82,158 farmers and fisherfolk, it added.
The DA said 141,312 hectares of agricultural areas have been hit by the super typhoon. This translates to 72,231 metric tons of production loss.
“Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries,” the agriculture department said.
As the estimate of agricultural damage went up, the DA has also increased the assistance it will provide to Karding-affected farmers and fishers.
The agriculture department said it will give farmers P27.47 million worth of rice seeds, P13.23 million worth of corn seeds, and P12.64 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds.
They will also receive P2.45 million worth of animal heads, drugs, and biologics for livestock and poultry, the DA added.
