DA: Over 1 Million Hectares of Rice, Corn at Risk Due to Tropical Storm Kristine

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has warned that more than 1.3 million hectares of rice and corn fields are at risk from Tropical Storm Kristine, which is causing floods and landslides in parts of Luzon and Visayas.

According to the DA’s situation bulletin, as of October 15, 2024, a total of 1,311,024 hectares of crops are threatened by the storm. This includes 1,103,582 hectares of rice and 207,442 hectares of corn across regions such as the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VIII, and XIII.

For rice, 14.53% of the affected areas are at the seedling and vegetative stage, 40.97% at the reproductive stage, and 44.50% at maturity. As for corn, 9.19% of the areas are at the seedling and vegetative stage, 19.38% at the reproductive stage, and 71.44% at maturity.

To minimize losses, the DA urged farmers and fisherfolk to take precautionary measures, including harvesting mature crops, relocating farm equipment, and securing planting materials. Fisherfolk were advised to avoid going to sea during the storm.

Floods and landslides have already been reported in some areas as Kristine continues to affect the country.