Farmers hit by Typhoon Haiyan need urgent assistance

Regions most severely affected by the typhoon account for one-third of the total rice production in the country
FAO 19 Nov 13;

19 November 2013, Rome - Hundreds of thousands of farmers in the Philippines whose crops were destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan need urgent assistance to sow new seeds before the end of the current planting season, FAO warned today.

The typhoon caused damage in the central part of the country to the 2013 main season rice crop, harvesting of which was well advanced.

It also badly disrupted planting of the current 2013-2014 secondary season, which ends in late December.

There is concern that many storage facilities may have been destroyed, along with their contents.

Damage to the main season paddy crop both by Typhoon Haiyan and by Typhoon Nari, which hit northern parts of the country in October, as well as disruption to the planting of the second season is expected to result in lower rice production than anticipated for 2013.

FAO has downgraded its forecast for the 2013 rice production in the country to 18 million tonnes from the expectation of a bumper crop of 18.9 million tonnes at the beginning of the season, FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) said today.

The rice production shortfall of 900 000 tonnes will be felt disproportionally in the five most affected regions.

While rice production at the national level is likely to remain close to last year’s level, the damage at the regional level is more severe. FAO warned that farmers in areas hit by the typhoon could face severe food security and livelihood problems if they do not succeed in planting the next crop in the weeks ahead.

The five regions most severely affected by the typhoon in terms of cereal crop losses accounted for one-third of the total rice production in 2012.

Rebuilding essential

“Initial estimates reveal that hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice and other key crops like coconut have been affected due to the typhoon,” said Dominique Burgeon, Director of FAO's Emergency and Rehabilitation Division.

“Planting of the secondary season, mostly irrigated rice, was well underway and it is expected that crops are severely compromised. If we want to avoid entire regions of the country having to rely on food aid, we need to act now to help vulnerable families to plant or replant by late December,” he said.

In addition to providing seeds and fertilizers, rebuilding agricultural infrastructure such as storage and irrigation facilities destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan is critical for the longer-term outlook for the regions’ rice production.

The secondary rice season is largely dependent on irrigation systems, damage to which will impact the success of the crop.

An FAO assessment team is currently in typhoon-damaged areas to get a more detailed picture of crop and rural infrastructure damages and the needs of affected populations.

FAO appeal

FAO has called for $ 24 million for immediate interventions in fisheries and agriculture targeting 250 000 households as part of the UN-coordinated humanitarian Flash Appeal launched on 12 November.

The Organization plans to provide farmers with rice and maize seeds, tools, fertilizer and small irrigation equipment so that they can plant during the secondary season. Families will also receive vegetable seeds to help bridge the gap before the next harvest.

It also aims to provide support to affected fisher and fish-farming communities. In the medium-term, FAO will collaborate with partners on cash-for-work and food-for-work programmes to clear farms of debris and rehabilitate agricultural infrastructure.

Some 13 million people have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan and over 4 million displaced, according to the latest estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. An estimated 2.5 million people are currently in need of food assistance.

Philippines typhoon crop damage worth $110 million: FAO
Agnieszka Flak PlanetArk 20 Nov 13;

Philippines typhoon crop damage worth $110 million: FAO Photo: Wolfgang Rattay
An aerial view of fallen coconut trees is seen in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the eastern Samar town of Guiuan November 19, 2013.
Photo: Wolfgang Rattay

The typhoon that hit the Philippines has caused crop losses worth $110 million and inflicted damage to the agriculture sector of more than twice that figure, preliminary estimates from the United Nation's food agency showed on Tuesday.

Some 153,495 hectares (ha) of rice paddy, maize and other high value crops such as coconut, banana, cassava, mango and vegetables have been hit by Typhoon Haiyan, which killed at least 3,900 people when it struck on November 8.

"High winds, heavy rains and localized floods destroyed houses and infrastructure, including irrigation facilities, and resulted in losses of the main staple rice paddy, sugarcane and coconut crops, as well as livestock, poultry and fisheries," the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said in a statement.

The forecast for damaged areas included some 77,476 ha of rice crops and 20,951 ha of maize crops, it added.

The FAO also said that imports of rice are expected to increase by 20 percent next year to 1.2 million tonnes.

Earlier on Tuesday the Philippines' National Food Authority (NFA) said it will import up to 500,000 tonnes of rice from its neighboring countries, possibly before the end of the year, as it replenishes stocks that have been depleted by the ongoing typhoon relief efforts.

Because of Haiyan and another typhoon which hit northern parts of the Philippines in October, the FAO cut its 2013 aggregate rice paddy output forecast - including the main 2013 season and the 2013/14 secondary season - to 18 million tonnes from previous estimates of a bumper crop of 18.9 million tonnes.

"At the revised level, the 2013 paddy output would be slightly lower than that of 2012," it said.

The final output will depend on timely rehabilitation and provision of seeds and fertilizers to allow farmers to replant before the end of the sowing period, the FAO said, calling for $24 million for immediate action targeting 250,000 households.

Philippine authorities and international aid agencies face a mounting humanitarian crisis, with the number of people displaced by the catastrophe estimated at 4 million.

(Editing by Keiron Henderson)