PLANTING SEASON. Farmers plant rice seedlings in Sumapang Matanda, Malolos, Bulacan on Sept. 14, 2023. In Eastern Visayas, the damage to agriculture due to flooding caused by the shear line has reached PHP47.3 million as of Nov. 22, the Department of Agriculture reported. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – The damage to agriculture due to flooding caused by the shear line in Eastern Visayas has reached PHP47.3 million as of Nov. 22, the Department of Agriculture reported Thursday.
Commodities affected include rice, high-value crops, root crops, banana and livestock.
"Out of the 143 municipalities and cities in the region, 11 municipalities were able to submit initial damage reports. These are San Jorge and Calbayog in Samar, Dolores, Jipapad and Maydolong in Eastern Samar; and Lope de Vega, Catarman, Palapag, Las Navas, Allen and San Roque in Northern Samar," the DA said in a statement.
The damage affected 1,877 farmers, 2,604 individuals and 1,941 hectares.
The island of Samar has been affected by heavy rainfall while Northern and Eastern Samar provinces sustained heavy flooding.
Rice areas in Northern Samar have the highest reported damage with about 1,707.5 hectares and 1,727 farmer-beneficiaries affected.
In terms of commodities affected, it was mostly rice areas that were heavily damaged with a total land area affected of about 1,907 hectares and counting covering 1,789 farmer-beneficiaries.
These affected areas comprise about 8 percent of the standing crop since the rice cropping season for these areas starts in November this year and is targeted to end by May 2023.
It is estimated that the planting will peak by January 2024.
"However, with this present situation, planting calendar will be modified and will be moved to give way to rehabilitation due to damage. The target production for palay for the 1st quarter will necessarily be affected," the DA said. (PNA)
