El Nino phenomenon damages to crops reach P80 M in ARMM

COTABATO CITY, March 17 – The Department of Agriculture and Fishers (DAF) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said that damage to agricultural products due to El Nino phoenomenon has reached P80 million.

The March 11, 2010 El Niño Crop Damage Report of DAF-ARMM showed the damages to crops and livestock amounting to P81,924,417.50.

Dr. Salik Panalunsong, DAF-ARMM field operations director, said the most affected provinces are Maguindanao with P74 million estimated cost of damages, Basilan with P5 million and Lanao del Sur with more than a million peso worth of spoiled rice and corn farms and high value commercial crops.

The long dry spell which started to hit the region in late December, has ravaged some P13,000 hectares of farm land.

Lawyer Lomala Balindong, DAF-ARMM regional secretary, said due to expected drought, the region has created a mitigation plan aimed at helping some 9,000 farmers cushion the impact of El Nino phenomenon.

Among the measures undertaken by DAF-ARMM include production support services, distribution of rice, corn and vegetable seeds; root crops planting materials; insecticides and rodenticides; allotment of some livestock, regional field monitoring, animal health management, irrigation and other post-harvest facilities, education and trainings.

Balindong said he is waiting for the approval of the P76-million mitigation plan by ARMM acting governor Ansaruddin Adiong. (PNA)

FFC/NYP/EOF

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