BUTUAN: Farmers affected by the recent flooding caused by inclement weather in the Caraga Region are set to receive aid from the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA). 'The DA-13 (Caraga) is working with the different local government units to determine the number of affected farmers,' Emmylou Presilda, DA-13 information officer, said on Thursday. In the past two weeks, floods have hit several parts of the region due to heavy rains brought by the shear line and the trough of a low-pressure area. Presilda said the agency's technical personnel are also coordinating with the municipal agriculture offices for the final listing of the beneficiaries. As of Thursday, DA-13 has 2,000 bags of certified rice seeds and 200 bags of yellow high-breed corn seeds prepared for distribution. To better support affected farmers, the department also has 155,423 pouches of assorted vegetable seeds and rodenticides ready for dispersal. Meanwhile, DA-13 said its agricultural program coordinating offices in the provinces are collaborating with the Office of Civil Defense 13's rapid damage assessment and needs analysis teams to assess the extent of damage and losses in the agriculture sector. 'Farmers are encouraged to report directly to their respective municipal or city agriculture offices for damage to crops and livestock for proper consolidation and validation of reports,' it said. Source: Philippines News Agency
