The Department of Agriculture (DA) has committed to provide continuing support to farmers affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island as production losses hit an estimated P913.026 million, data on Monday, Feb. 10, showed.
Based on the summary report released by the DA-NIR, since Dec. 9, 2024, losses in Negros Occidental reached P130.528 million, and P782.498 million in Negros Oriental, affecting 4,066 farmers.
The displaced farmers are located in the cities of Bago, La Carlota and Canlaon and the municipality of La Castellana.
“Immediate input supply support assistance will be provided to the displaced farmers once they can go back to their farms,” DA-NIR OIC-Regional Executive Officer Jose Albert Barrogo said in the report.
These will include seeds, fertilizers, livestock and other farm inputs, alternative livelihood assistance, and infrastructure projects such as trading posts and farm-to-market roads, as part of the rehabilitation program.
In Negros Occidental, the highest loss was reported by 1,168 affected high value crop farmers at P124.931 million.
Losses in rice production was pegged at P4.192 million, affecting 229 farmers; livestock and poultry – P900,100, 49 farmers; and corn – P503,352, 15 farmers.
In Negros Oriental, the high value crops sector also suffered the biggest loss at P735.179 million, affecting 1,850 farmers; followed by rice – P45.794 million, 635 farmers; and corn – P1.524 million, 114 farmers.
The DA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center previously reported that available interventions to affected farmers include agricultural inputs such as rice and corn seeds, as well as drugs and biologics for livestock animals from DA-Western Visayas.
Other forms of assistance include quick response fund for the rehabilitation and recovery of affected areas; up to P25,000 loanable amount from the Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council; and indemnification of insured affected farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.
In La Castellana, the worst-hit local government unit (LGU) in Negros Occidental, the municipal government initiated a vegetable seed production project to enable affected farmers to cultivate seeds for local food supply and generate income.
Rehabilitation measures are also being implemented in affected farms in Bago City, the top rice-producing LGU in Negros Occidental.
“We have standby organic fertilizers, vegetable seeds, and coffee, banana and cacao planting materials needed by the farmers for replanting,” City Agriculturist Marvin John Blance said.*PNA