Lannie agriculture damage reaches P5.4 million

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to agriculture caused by tropical depression Lannie has reached P5.44 million, data from the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operation Center showed.

In its bulletin as of noon yesterday, the agency said 342 farmers and 651 hectares of rice fields were affected by the weather disturbance in Western Visayas, with production loss at 195 metric tons.

The DA said the amount of damage is still subject to validation.

Based on the combined standing crops data in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas, the DA said 518,481 hectares of rice could have been affected by the tropical depression.

The DA said the volume of production loss accounts for 25.13 percent of the country’s standing crops. The agency said 34,443 hectares of corn fields could have been damaged.

The DA said it is offering assistance to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the tropical depression.

It said rice and corn seeds as well as assorted vegetables, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs are available.

The DA said affected farmers and fisherfolk could avail themselves of the Survival and Recovery Loan Program through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council and funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.

Lannie exited the Philippine area of responsibility at 5 a.m. yesterday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.