The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA- CAR) assured farmers that it has ready buffer stock of seeds for possible rehabilitation of agricultural damage caused by Typhoon “Gorio” in the region.
Currently, a total of 47,081.22 hectares for rice, 57,306.72 hectares for corn and 19,799.71 hectares for other highland value crops are vulnerable to typhoon damage. Strong winds and continuous rainfall would be unfavorable to various agricultural crops especially those in their reproductive and maturity stages.
The DA CAR has available buffer stock of 492.65 kilograms for highland vegetables, 580.875 kg for lowland vegetables, 4,130 bags certified palay seeds, 2,111 bags hybrid yellow corn seeds and 166 bags OPV white corn seeds.
To have access to the assistance, farmers should report any crop damage to their respective Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAO) whch will prepare the municipal crop damage report and submit it to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
Crop damage reports submitted to OPAG will be immediately be validated by the DA-Regional Field Office. Results of the field validation will be the basis of allocating seed buffer stocks to the farmers whose crops or production areas reported either with chances or no chance of recovery after the calamity, said Virginia A. Tapat, Chief of Operations DA-CAR.
She stressed that validation of reports is crucial so the farmers must accomplish and submit all pertinent requirements when seeking assistance.
Typhoon Gorio had enhanced the southwest monsoon bringing moderate to occasionally heavy rains with strong winds in the region for at least three days over the weekend. Initial cost of damage to agriculture was placed at P2.4 million.**(DA-CAR
