Struggle to Rebuild After Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan was not only lethal towards human lives and structures in the Philippines, but also created a huge impact on family farms in the affected area. Family coconut farms received significant damage as a result of the natural disaster wreaking havoc on the livelihoods of many of the eastern Philippine farmers that will be felt long after the disaster fades from attention. The displaced famers have a hard choice to uproot themselves from their province to seek work elsewhere or remain in the hopes that they can return to the fields once the land is capable of being tilled once again. If they remain, tenant farmers will have an arduous task of clearing flattened trees and replanting. Farmers in the region have been quoted as saying that even the still standing trees will most likely have to be uprooted since their cores are damaged. Duma, a Philippine tenant farmer, stated that “If we get seeding, we can plant again next year. We will really go into hard times if the government cannot support us.” Beyond just farming for coconuts, the fronds are used as roofing, husks as flooring, and the flesh for food. The necessity of the tree in the life of people living in the Philippines compounds the disastrous effects of losing so many of the cash crop.