OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, November 04, 2020 – Farmers and fisherfolks in Occidental Mindoro suffered considerable loss of harvest and potential income after typhoon Quinta (international name “Molave”) destroyed various agricultural interventions provided by the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development Program (DA-SAAD).

According to the PAGASA weather bulletin (11:00 AM PHT) released on 26 October, the municipalities of Abra de Ilog, Mamburao, and Paluan located in the northwestern part of Occidental Mindoro were placed under Signal No. 3 while the rest of the province was on Signal No. 2. Torrential rains fell over affected areas devastating rice, corn, and cassava planted by SAAD program beneficiaries in five municipalities in the said province.

Based on preliminary data collated by DA-SAAD coordinators as of November 2, typhoon Quinta washed out an estimated 472.435 MT of crops valued at Php 5,519,750.00. It also damaged 158.1 hectares of farmland and affected 175 SAAD beneficiaries.

Abra de Ilog

Lowland rice crops of 64 members belonging to three farmers’ groups in Brgy. Balao was ravaged by Quinta. An estimated 73.4MT of rice crops worth Php 881,400.00 was lost. The total area affected is 57.5 hectares.

Arangkada Palayan Farmers’ Association in Sitio Nangka reported that 12.5 hectares of rice area was severely affected by the storm which ruined 9.7 metric tons (MT), equivalent to more than half of their anticipated harvest. According to its chairperson, Mr. Herbacio Agustin, the rice has already been in the maturity stage and is due for harvesting in the first or second week of November. The estimated value of losses amounts to Php 116,400.00.

The Patubigan Farmers Association in Sitio GCFI lost 28.5 MT of rice worth Php 342,000.00, planted in a 22-hectare land by its 24 members. Meanwhile, in the same town, the Isulong ang Maunlad na Palayan Farmers Association, with 23 members, tilling 29 hectares of rice area were also affected by the typhoon, wiping out an estimated 35.2 MT rice worth Php 423,000.00.

Sta. Cruz

Already on its reproductive stage, the corn planted by the Kurtinganan Corn Farmers’ Association in Brgy. Kurtinganan, Sta. Cruz was deemed unmarketable and unfit for consumption. The corn kernels are observed to have white blisters outside and penetrated by a clear liquid inside.

According to the association’s chairperson, Mr. Alfredo Pajayon, the total damaged area is 17.1 hectares affecting twelve of their members.

Washed out by Quinta was an estimated 112.9 MT of corn that is due for harvest on the first to second week of December and valued at Php 1,410,750.00.

To aid the affected corn farmers from financial losses, the LGU of Sta. Cruz will provide them with seeds in replacement of the crops that were destroyed, said MAO Josefina D. Villa.

Rizal

In the municipality of Rizal, Quinta affected 64.5 hectares of agricultural land cultivated by 58 rice-farmer members of the Pangkalikasang Samahan ng Buhid sa Bato Singit in Brgy. Manoot. An estimated 203.175 MT rice, worth Php 2,438,100.00 were destroyed by the typhoon. The farmers are due to harvest the rice in the second week of November. The LGU of Rizal will provide 5 kilograms of rice as assistance to each affected farmers’ family, according to MAO Jessie S. Celestino.

Magsaysay

Thirteen members of the Palayan Farmers Association in Brgy. Calawag incurred an estimated loss of 35 MT of palay worth Php 405,500.00. The storm damaged 7 hectares of the total area, where the palay production is already in the maturity stage and is due for harvest this November.

Paluan

Twelve hectares of land planted with cassava crops in the reproductive stage were damaged by Quinta. Twenty-eight farmers of Sitio Hinugasan Cassava Planters’ Association in Brgy. Harrison reportedly lost an estimated 48 MT of dried and chipped cassava valued at Php 384,000.00. The farmers are enrolled in the crop insurance program of DA-PCIC.

The provincial and local government units of Occidental Mindoro are still evaluating and drafting courses of action to address loss and damage in the agricultural sector. ###

Writer:

Marshall Louie Asis, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Information Officer

Reference and photos by SAAD Area Coordinators:

Ian Von Yadao (Sta. Cruz), Wily Adrian Vergara (Abra de Ilog), Mario Paz (Rizal),  Jhonzell Panganiban (Paluan), and Vilmar Robes (Magsaysay)