The provincial agriculture office here assured sufficient supplies of highland vegetables for the holiday season despite Super Typhoon Uwan’s multi-billion-peso damage to the agriculture sector.

“After our farmers saw that their plants were damaged by the typhoon, they immediately replanted and their crops are now growing in time for the holiday season,” Provincial Agriculturist Delinia Juan said in a media interview during the opening of the Agri-Tourism Fair for Benguet’s 125th foundation anniversary and 2025 Adivay Festival on Monday.

Benguet supplies at least 85 percent of the country’s highland vegetable requirements, with most of the produce delivered to Metro Manila, the Visayas and other parts of Luzon.

Juan noted that unlike before, farmers now have access to seedling growers who provide ready-to-plant materials, allowing quicker replacement of damaged crops.

“Before, farmers had to start from seed, grow the sprouts and then transplant them. Now, seedlings are readily available for purchase, making it easier to recover after calamities,” she explained.

“They will not wait for intervention before resuming work. Planting is their livelihood, and they know they have a responsibility to feed the people.”

Juan said the province is still finalizing its assessment of Uwan’s agricultural impact and preparing recommendations for provincial intervention.

“We are collecting data from the municipalities. As we near yearend, the province will surely include calamity interventions in the 2026 budget,” she said, adding that they will also seek assistance from national agencies.

Initial data from the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) indicated damage amounting to PHP73,817,211.82 across rice, corn, root crops, high-value crops, livestock, agricultural infrastructure, machinery, equipment, and irrigation systems as of Nov. 14.

A total of 4,385 farmers and 1,329 hectares of planted areas were affected.

Ready interventions

DA-CAR has prepared immediate interventions, including 5,515 bags of three-kilogram rice seeds, enough to replant 903 hectares of land and 4,386 bags of nine-kg. corn seeds, sufficient for 2,193 hectares.

Seeds for snap beans, bush sitao and pole sitao are also available for distribution, along with 500 bags of 10-kilogram milled rice as additional assistance.

The DA added that as of the third quarter of 2025, regional rice production increased by 13 percent (19,929 metric tons), corn by 10 percent (11,416 metric tons), and high-value crops by 0.3 percent (997 metric tons). (PNA)