THE Department of Agriculture (DA)-Cordillera Administrative Region assured farmers that it has prepared buffer stock of seeds for possible rehabilitation of agricultural damages caused by Typhoon Gorio in the region.
Currently, a total of 47,081.22 hectares (ha) for rice, 57,306.72 ha for corn and 19,799.71 ha for other highland value crops are vulnerable to typhoon damages.
Strong winds and continuous rainfall would be unfavorable to various agricultural crops especially those in their reproductive and maturity stages.
DA-Cordillera has available buffer stock of 492.65 kilograms (kg) for highland vegetable, 580.875 kg for lowland vegetable, 4,130 bags certified palay seeds, 2,111 bags for hybrid yellow corn seeds and 166 bags OPV White corn seeds.
To have access to the assistance, farmers should report of any crop damage to their respective Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAO) who will prepare the municipal crop damage report and submit it to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
Crop Damage report 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 stock to the farmers whose crops or production areas reported either with chances or no chance of recovery after the calamity, said Virginia Tapat, Chief of Operations DA-Cordillera.
She stressed validation of report is crucial so the farmers must accomplish and submit all pertinent requirements when seeking for assistance.
Typhoon Gorio 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. (PR)