Typhoon Rosita proved to be costly for the country, with over ₱1.82 billion (USD 350 million) in damage.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said a total of 90,052 hectares of agricultural land in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Regions I, II, and III were affected by the storm which lashed the country.
An estimated 98,060 metric tons of of produce were lost, said Piñol.
Rice was the most affected crop, with total losses amounting to ₱1.39 billion (USD 260 million), and affecting 4,921 farmers in Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Zambales.
A total of 19,213 farmers were affected by the storm.
“Region II is the most affected region in terms of damages and losses in rice amounting to ₱1.20 billion (USD 230 million) with Isabela as the most affected province with an amount of ₱745.15 million (USD 14 million),” said Piñol.
Other affected commodities were corn, fisheries, livestock and high-value crops, such as coffee, fruit trees, and assorted vegetables.
Region II was the most affected area, followed by Region III, CAR, and Region I.
Source: CNN Philippines