Farmers in Cebu were urged to insure their crops and promptly report any ashfall-related damage after volcanic ash from Kanlaon reached parts of the province on Thursday, July 9.

The Cebu Provincial Agriculture Office said that early reporting and insurance coverage will help affected farmers recover more quickly if the ashfall damages crops.

Provincial Agriculturist Roldan Saragena said the Capitol shoulders the insurance premiums through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, allowing qualified farmers to enroll without paying any cost.

Capitol-backed crop insurance

Saragena said that farmers who experience crop losses should immediately notify their municipal or city agriculture office so appraisers can inspect the damage and process insurance claims.

“Dapat ato jud ipa-insured ang atong mga tanom…Once ma receive na nato ang inyong insurance application, application pa lang niya nadaot inyong tanom, covered namo,” Saragena said.

(We encourage farmers to insure their crops. Once we receive your insurance application, your crops are already covered. Even if they are damaged while your application is still being processed, they are covered by the insurance.)

Saragena said that the Capitol-funded insurance program already covers around 60,000 to 70,000 hectares of farmland.

He also encouraged farmers who have not yet registered to apply through their municipal or city agriculture offices.

Insurance payouts depend on the extent of damage and the assessment conducted by the insurer, Saragena said.

He said rice and corn farmers may receive up to ₱25,000 per hectare under the program.

Coverage for high-value crops includes ₱5,000 per fruit-bearing mango tree, ₱100 per banana hill, ₱50,000 per hectare for sweet corn, and ₱20,000 per hectare for cassava.

No major crop losses so far

Despite the ashfall, Saragena said that the province has not received reports of significant agricultural damage. That’s based on updates from municipal and city agriculture officers.

He, however, warned that prolonged and heavier ashfall could eventually affect crop production if conditions persist.

Saragena explained that thick ash settling on plant leaves for two to three days could interfere with photosynthesis, reducing the plants’ ability to produce food.

“Naay gamay na disruption sa iyang photosynthetic activity sa mga tanom kay ang ashfall adto man motapot sa iyang dahon and ang dahon, naa man diha ang food making,” Saragena said.

Kanlaon ashfall precaution: Wash your greens more

(There could be a slight disruption to the plants’ photosynthetic activity because the ashfall sticks to their leaves, and the leaves are where they produce food.)

He added that leafy vegetables may also become contaminated by volcanic ash.

“Mas maayo na hugasan og running water una iconsume kay di ta kabalo unsay chemical elements nga naa sa ashfall,” Saragena noted.

(It is better to wash them thoroughly under running water before consuming them because we do not know what chemical elements are present in the ashfall.)

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that Kanlaon Volcano erupted on Thursday morning. Prevailing winds carried ashfall toward Cebu, particularly areas along the province’s western coast.

Source - https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net