Manila: The Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) is set to distribute standby hybrid rice and corn seeds to farmers affected by recent weather disturbances. Ellyn Virador, DA-CAR’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management focal person, highlighted that the agency has PHP29.88 million worth of hybrid rice and yellow corn seeds prepositioned at the DA Research Outreach Station in Apayao.

According to Philippines News Agency, this includes 4,621 packs of hybrid rice seeds at 3-kg each and 4,726 bags of yellow corn seeds at 9-kg each, ready for distribution to farmers whose plants were damaged by three tropical cyclones and the southwest monsoon experienced in the region over about three weeks. ‘These are ready for immediate distribution under the regional Rice and Corn programs, following validation of damage,’ Virador stated.

Initial reports indicate agricultural losses in the region caused by the weather conditions have reached PHP10.88 million, with high-value crops accounting for PHP4.79 million. Of this, PHP3.3 million was attributed to rice, and PHP1.98 million to corn. Infrastructure damage was reported at PHP800,000.

As of August 6, Apayao reported the highest confirmed losses at PHP5.5 million covering 493.75 hectares, followed by Kalinga at PHP4.3 million, Mountain Province at PHP900,000, and Abra at PHP200,000. Benguet’s report is pending.

The Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service (RAFIS) noted that additional seed reserves are available at provincial agriculture offices for affected farmers. Meanwhile, DA-CAR finance officer Aida Pagtan announced that the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) has approved a PHP25,000 zero-interest, non-collateral loan for affected farmers. The loan is payable in three years and available to those registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).