CHIZ URGES DA TO PLANT OTHER CROPS TO MINIMIZE
AGRI DAMAGE OF 'ONDOY'

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday said the unexpected amount of rain dumped by Typhoon Ondoy should convince government agricultural experts to conduct a study on what plants can recover more quickly from excessive water and strong winds.

At least 16.7 inches of rain fell last weekend, much more than the usual average of 15.4 inches for September.

Escudero suggested that farmers in typhoon-prone provinces consider cultivating banana, corn, abaca and other crops that can thrive on the country's nitrogenous soil.

"Cover crops such as ramie, maguey and kudzu can also mitigate damages from strong rains and winds," the 39-year-old lawmaker said.

Ramie and maguey are both fiber crops used for making clothing and twine, respectively, while kudzu is a vine sued for medicinal and industrial purposes. Its long stems can also be used for controlling soil erosion.

Escudero noted that while most attention has been on floods spawned by Ondoy on urban centers, there was also significant damage in Luzon's agricultural heartlands in Regions 3 & 4.

"Besides damaging life and property, Ondoy also destroyed crops that resulted in heavy losses for farmers," he noted.

The Department of Agriculture estimated damages to agriculture from Ondoy at P3.6 billion based on reports from affected regions, with losses to the rice sector at P3.28 billion, corn P35 million, high value commercial crops P126 million, livestock and poultry P31 million.

Damage to facilities, infrastructure and equipment used for livestock and fisheries was pegged at P1.5 million.