Aklan’s rice harvest was not affected despite the massive damage wrought by Typhoon Seniang to Aklan which totaled more than P400,000,000.
Provincial Agriculturist Delano Tefora said this is so because Aklan farmers have already harvested their palay produce before "Seniang" struck Aklan.
"If there are losses, these are minimal and incurred by farmers who have started planting for the next cropping season already. However, if their rice plants were newly planted, these could be rehabilitated or the farmers could replant. But if the rice plants are in flowering stage or undergoing panicle initiation, it will be hard for the rice plants to recover," Tefora explained.
On the other hand, National Food Authority Aklan revealed that Aklan has enough rice supply to last for a long period.
Judith Tindog, NFA-Aklan Information Officer said most of the stocks are now with commercial traders and in households.
Tindog also revealed that when "Seniang" hit Aklan, NFA-Aklan was quick to respond to local government units which were in great need of rice, and readily released the much-needed commodity during the period of calamity from the agency’s warehouse.
She said the NFA and local government units have a standing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to assure rice assistance from the government in times of disasters and calamities.
Meanwhile, the country’s agriculture sector was estimated to have grown by 4.7 to 5 percent in 2006 despite the damaging effects of the consecutive typhoons in the 3rd and 4th quarters, according to Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap.
Coincidentally, Yap’s view and that of Aklan Provincial Agriculturist Tefora jived, as Yap said that "early harvest done by farmers during the third quarter saved a lot for the sector". /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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