DA grants P2.9 billion aid to farmers affected by Typhoon Odette

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is providing P2.9 billion in financial aid to farmers and fishers impacted by Typhoon Odette.

The typhoon caused an estimated P11.7 billion in damages and losses to agricultural products.

A total of 411,038 farmers and fishers were affected, with production losses amounting to 267,369 metric tons across 442,674 hectares of agricultural land.

The affected regions span across CALABARZON, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga.

Key commodities damaged include rice, corn, high-value crops, coconut, sugarcane, abaca, livestock, and fisheries, along with agricultural infrastructure and equipment.

However, early intervention allowed farmers to harvest 11,454 hectares of rice (34,433 metric tons) and save 2,452 hectares of corn (6,965 metric tons) prior to the typhoon's landfall.