Isabela urged to declare state of calamity as crop damage hit P1B

CAGAYAN, Philippines – Agriculture officials in Isabela have urged the provincial government to declare a state of calamity after the dry spell’s damage to crops was pegged at more than P1 billion.

The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) of Isabela said in a statement that it made the recommendation to the provincial government after P966 million worth of corn and P35 million worth rice had been damaged due to the dry spell in the province.
 
Provincial agriculturist Danilo Tumamao said that the declaration of a state of calamity will help fee provincial funds to aid the farmers in at least 23 drought-hit towns.

“The damage may even increase as farmers have yet to harvest their crops,” Tumamao added.

PAO said that almost half of the 120,359 hectares of corn planted for this year’s wet season were damaged.

Tumamao said more than 43,000 farmers were affected by the drought, even as the country started to experience heavy rain, which is not enough to irrigate the crops.

He added that the state weather bureau reported that the rainfall in Isabela province was 37.3% below normal. – Rappler.com