The El Niño drought damage to crops in Negros Occidental has breached the P100 million mark.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in a report submitted to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, which he released Wednesday, April 10, placed the damage to rice and corn at P115,228,510 in 22 towns and cities of Negros Occidental.
Damage to rice was P110,490,700 and corn – P4,737,809 affecting 3,312 farmers tilling 2,737 hectares in 153 barangays.
The largest damage to rice crops was in Kabankalan City at P41,910,361 followed by Cauayan – P14,001,540, Candoni – P10,300,773, Bago City – P8,233,608, Ilog – P7,487,370, Himamaylan – P3,732,556;
San Enrique – P3,581,679, Valladolid – P3,442,846, EB Magalona – P2,572,460, Hinoba-an – P2,525,595, San Carlos City – P2,383,723, Hinigaran – P1,751,055, Sipalay City – P1,697,533;
Pontevedra – P1,557,122, Binalbagan – P1,202,640, Talisay City – P1,115,504, Pulupandan – P818,469, Salvador Benedicto – P701,525, Murcia – P688,638, Moises Padilla – P450,897, and Isabela – P334,800.
Damage to corn in Calatrava was P3,877,704, Isabela – P301,864, Sipalay City – P243,356, Murcia- P199,384 and Don Salvador Benedicto – P115,500.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense on Wednesday said the Department of Agriculture has placed the crop damage in Western Visayas at P770.5 million.
The DA data did not appear to be updated as its crop damage in Negros Occidental remained at P78.4 million.
The DA report said the largest crop damage was in Iloilo province at P519 million, followed by Antique at P130 million, Aklan – P30.1 million and Capiz – P12 million.*