MANILA, Sept 29 (NNN-PNA) – Tropical storm Mitag, and super typhoon Ragasa, which battered the Philippines this month, have caused an estimated 1.38 billion pesos (around 24 million U.S. dollars) in damage and losses, to the country’s agricultural sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said, yesterday.
The figure reflects the combined impact of the two powerful storms and the south-west monsoon across the country’s nine regions, the DA said in a statement.
Around 55,595 farmers and agricultural workers have been affected, with damage spanning 47,723 hectares of farmland, the department said.
Preliminary estimates point to production losses of 109,997 metric tonnes across rice, corn, high-value crops, and livestock and poultry, the DA added.
The DA said, it continues to gather field reports from areas affected by severe tropical storm Bualoi, which swept through key agricultural zones in the central Philippines in recent days.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said yesterday that, the three weather disturbances, Mitag, Ragasa, and Bualoi, have claimed at least 26 lives, while 14 people remain missing.
More than 738,000 families, or over 2.79 million people, have been affected nationwide by days of heavy rains, floods and landslides.– NNN-PNA
