Cagayan Valley suffers P700 million loss from crop damage due to dry spell
Tuguegarao City (August 16) -- The dry spell that hit Cagayan Valley and damaged rice and corn plantations incurred a lost of about P700 million.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 02 reported that a total of 126,000 hectares of agricultural lands were affected, out of which 31,000 hectares have no chance of recovery.
The province of Isabela has incurred the heaviest damage with some 58,000 hectares affected estimated P420 million lost.
Governor Grace Padaca was the first to declare her province in a state of calamity after receiving reports of severe damages in crop production even as rain seeding was done in the area.
Meanwhile, Quirino, Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya eventually followed in declaring their provinces in state of calamity also after reports of losses. Some 115,000 hectares of lands are affected in the said provinces with damages estimated at P280 million.
During the Regional Development Council (RDC 02) meeting, it was recommended that the whole region be declared in a state of calamity. The council members agreed to lobby to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for fund assistance.
DA Regional Executive Director Gumersindo Lasam said the Cagayan Valley region supplies 40% of the country's rice production.
He said if the dry spell will continue throughout the year, the region may no be able to keep up with the usual harvests. (PIA Cagayan) [top]
