Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Pigs, plants, or coconuts? Filipino farmers weigh trade-offs
http://news.yahoo.com/pigs-plants-coconuts-filipino-farmers-weigh-trade-offs-161745004.htmlThe Philippine’s Department of Agriculture reported on Monday that the typhoon caused $225 million in damages to the farming industry. Rice and sugar cane fields were flooded with salt water and strewn with debris. Fishing boats were shattered and swept out to sea.
The Philippine Coconut Authority reported the typhoon severely or totally damaged more than 1.2 million coconut trees. Coconut oil was the Philippine’s top agricultural export in 2012 and the UN lists the country as the top coconut oil producer in the world.
The FAO says the affected areas account for one-third of the country's total rice production and predicted a rice shortfall of 900,000 tons for 2013. While
national rice production is likely to remain near last year’s level, the regions hit hardest by the storm could face severe food shortages if they fail to plant new crops in the coming weeks, according to the organization.
“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,” Dominique Burgeon, director of FAO's Emergency and Rehabilitation Division, said in a statement.
The Philippine Coconut Authority reported the typhoon severely or totally damaged more than 1.2 million coconut trees. Coconut oil was the Philippine’s top agricultural export in 2012 and the UN lists the country as the top coconut oil producer in the world.
The FAO says the affected areas account for one-third of the country's total rice production and predicted a rice shortfall of 900,000 tons for 2013. While
national rice production is likely to remain near last year’s level, the regions hit hardest by the storm could face severe food shortages if they fail to plant new crops in the coming weeks, according to the organization.
“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,” Dominique Burgeon, director of FAO's Emergency and Rehabilitation Division, said in a statement.
