Zamboanga City – Flash floods spawned by rains due to Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) last week inundated 671.58 hectares of farmlands and fishponds in the east coast.
Damage to crops is estimated to have reached ₱ 22, 653, 767.10, of which ₱ 11.005 million is the cost for damages to agricultural crops while ₱ 11.64 million is the cost for damages to seaweeds and fishpond products.
Of the total 671.58 hectares damaged, 244.08 hectares were planted with rice (216.60 ha), corn (1.06 ha) and assorted vegetables (26.42 ha) while 427.50 hectares were planted with seaweeds (327.70 ha) and fishponds (99.80 ha).
A total of 1,396 farmers were affected.
Biggest damage was incurred by 893 farmers in Manicahan and Curuan districts, with value of losses estimated at ₱ 8.92 million, followed by 94 vegetable farmers in Manicahan, Vitali and Tumaga districts who lost some ₱ 6.20 million worth of crops due to the flash floods.
285 rice farmers in Culianan, Manicahan, Curuan and Vitali Districts also suffered losses amounting to ₱ 4.76 million; 121 fishpond operators in Manicahan, Culianan and Curuan districts also lost ₱ 2.72 million worth of fishery products.
Three (3) corn farmers in the districts of Vitali and Tumaga also suffered ₱ 34, 754.55 worth of crops due to the calamity.
The City Agriculturist Office is preparing its recommendations for assistance to be given to the farmers. Relief goods were initially given to those affected by the City Social Welfare and Development office.
(LGU Public Information Office)
