The combined effects of the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), past cyclones Luis and Maymay, and now Tropical Depression Neneng have led to P1.73 billion worth of damage and losses to the country's agriculture sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.
The latest assessment by DA regional offices showed that the weather disturbances affected agricultural and fishery areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Western Visayas.
There were 40,954 hectares of agricultural areas hit and 43, 220 metric tons of production losses incurred.
Of the total damage and losses recorded, rice accounted for the biggest share at P974.82 million.