The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN–OCHA) on Wednesday disclosed that relief and recovery efforts in the country will prioritize the agriculture sector following the devastation brought by tropical storm “Ondoy” (international name: Ketsana) and typhoon “Pepeng” (international name: Parma) almost a month ago.

The UN–OCHA said it will give due attention on assisting farmers rebuild their livelihood. It added that emergency supplies of rice, vegetable seeds, and fertilizers as well as repair of damaged small-scale irrigation systems should be the highest priorities as dry season is expected in November and December.

Based on a joint preliminary assessment by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Philippine agriculture authorities, an estimated 100,000 to 120,000 farming households lost all of their production and assets as a result of the weather disturbances.

The OCHA warned that if the needed support is not given to the farmers, “the next harvest season will be significantly affected and many households will struggle to ensure there is enough food.”

Likewise, the OCHA has called on donors to step up funding for its appeal. It will be recalled that the UN launched a Flash Appeal Last October 7 in Manila, as well as in Geneva, Switzerland and New York, USA to appeal to international donors $74-million that would be used for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of typhoon-devastated areas in the country.

So far, however, only $22.4 million has been received or just 30 percent of the $74 million Flash Appeal, according to OCHA.

The Philippine government has been requesting the UN to expand its Flash Appeal.

It will be recalled that the two typhoons have killed more than 500 people, displaced thousands of others and destroyed homes, schools, other infrastructures, and farm areas in the Northern, Central and Southern Luzon.

The widespread destruction caused by the two typhoons have caught the attention of the international community, which started pouring in donations for the typhoon victims.

UN–OCHA Undersecretary General John Holmes had also visited the country early this month to personally assess the damage in typhoon-affected areas.