The Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) is set to distribute standby hybrid rice and corn seed to farmers affected by recent weather disturbances.

Ellyn Virador, DA-CAR’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management focal person, said on Thursday that the agency has PHP29.88 million worth of hybrid rice and yellow corn seeds prepositioned at the DA Research Outreach Station in Apayao.

This includes 4,621 packs of hybrid rice seeds at 3-kg. each and 4,726 bags of yellow corn seeds at 9-kg. each.

They are ready to be distributed to farmers whose plants were damaged by the three tropical cyclones and the southwest monsoon experienced in the region for about three weeks.

“These are ready for immediate distribution under the regional Rice and Corn programs, following validation of damage,” Virador said in a statement.

Initial reports show agricultural losses in the region caused by three tropical cyclones and monsoon rains reached PHP10.88 million, with high-value crops accounting for PHP4.79 million.

Of the figure, PHP3.3 million was accounted for rice, and corn for PHP1.98 million.

Infrastructure damage, on the other hand, stood at PHP800,000.

As of Aug. 6 , Apayao reported the highest confirmed losses at PHP5.5 million covering 493.75 hectares, followed by Kalinga at PHP4.3 million, Mountain Province at PHP900,000, and Abra PHP200,000. Benguet’s report is still pending.

The Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service (RAFIS) said additional seed reserves are also available at provincial agriculture offices to be given to affected farmers.

Meanwhile, DA-CAR finance officer Aida Pagtan announced that the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) has approved a PHP25,000 zero-interest, non-collateral loan for affected farmers.

The loan is payable in three years and available to those registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). (PNA)