As livelihood recovery efforts continue, farmers in Siargao Island and the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte are optimistic that the upcoming harvest can help them rebound from the devastating impacts of Typhoon Odette.

The eight municipalities Dapa, General Luna, Del Carmen, Burgos, Pilar, Sta. Monica, San Benito, and San Isidro are now starting to rehab their damaged farms through the assistance of the Department of Agriculture (DA). Around 5,000 sweet potato cuttings, 2,564 pouches of vegetables, 50 bags of certified rice seeds, 300 bags of corn seeds, and 200 bags of fertilizer were distributed to the farmers in the island.

“Our main goal is to help the residents in the Island not to rely on relief goods in the coming months. It is expected that the production will provide food for each family as well as to the community in Siargao after three to four months,” said DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Ricardo M. Oñate, Jr.

To fast-track the rehabilitation efforts and to ensure the readiness of the areas, the DA-Caraga deployed its farm machinery on the island which started on January 11. Two four-wheel-drive tractors with implements like the disc plow, trailing harrow, and rotavator were used to simplify the work and increase speed and efficiency for the recovering farmers.

Director Oñate said that mechanization is an essential input for agricultural crop production. “More tasks can be completed at the right time and greater areas can be farmed to produce greater quantities of crops. Without timely and adequate support the production capacity of the farmers could be compromised.”

On its second week of operation, around 20 hectares are cultivated in the municipality of Dapa and General Luna. More areas will be assisted in the coming days as the rehabilitation workforce doubles its efforts in assisting more farmers.

The Department continuously pours its support to the affected communities by intensifying the implementation of the OneDA reform agenda key strategies. Modernization of agriculture through mechanization and climate change adaptation & mitigation measures will further strengthen the agency’s efforts to address current agriculture challenges like climate change by introducing agriculture climate-resilient technologies.

Moreover, DA-Caraga is allocating around ₱245 million worth of interventions for the rehabilitation and recovery plan for the Province of Surigao del Norte. This includes production support and financial assistance from DA – Agricultural Credit Policy Council.