THE Department of Agriculture (DA) assured an overall stable supply of food in the country despite the onslaught of Typhoon Aghon.
In an interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said agriculture damage due to Aghon now stands at P11.83 million, with the majority of losses reported in the rice sector.
“Sa ngayon, wala pa tayong nakikitang malaking epekto ng Aghon. Napakaliit pa ng damage na na-register sa agriculture sector,” he said.
The total damage includes P10.66 million in rice production, with Laguna and Quezon being the hardest-hit; as well as P1.15 million damage in high-value crops.
De Mesa said the damage was relatively small because the country already harvested around 99 percent of its rice for the dry season, and most of the farms are either under land preparation or in the early stages of crop production for the wet season.
In terms of vegetable production, he said, the effects of Aghon on “pinakbet” vegetables in Calabarzon may be supplemented by other regions.
“Ang malapit naman na source ng lowland vegetable natin ay Central Luzon at Cagayan Valley, madali naman iyon ma-supplement. Iyong highland vegetables natin, wala naman tayong problema dahil of course ng Benguet,” de Mesa said.
According to the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center, around 84 hectares of farmlands are totally damaged, while 155 hectares are partially damaged with a chance of recovery.
The affected areas are in the Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions; while Bicol and Eastern Visayas have yet to submit their validated reports. (PNA)
