El Niño has caused over ₱40 million in damage to rice and corn crops in Negros Island, Engr. Marion Tagle, Disaster Risk Reduction Management chief of the Department of Agriculture Negros Island Region (DA-NIR), said on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Rice production bore the brunt of the dry spell, with estimated losses reaching ₱35.9 million across 1,338 hectares of affected farmland.
Tagle noted that nearly 42 hectares have been totally destroyed with no chance of recovery, while the remaining areas sustained partial damage and may still recover. The valuation reflects both the initial production costs and the anticipated market value of the expected harvest.
The agricultural damage is heavily concentrated in rainfed or rain-dependent areas, while irrigated rice fields have reported no losses so far, Tagle said.
Affected rice fields in Negros Occidental are in Cadiz City, Escalante City, Hinigaran, Ilog, Kabankalan City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Sagay City, San Carlos City, Toboso, and Don Salvador Benedicto, he saud.
Meanwhile, corn crops have suffered ₱4.2 million in damage covering nearly 110 hectares as of Oct. 12, primarily in Toboso, Negros Occidental, and San Jose, Negros Oriental.
Of that total, 18 hectares were completely ruined, while 91 hectares sustained partial damage, Tagle said.
Tagle added that the DA is still awaiting crop damage reports from other local government units, particularly in Negros Oriental where farms rely heavily on rainfall.
In response to the ongoing drought, the agency is actively encouraging local farmers to diversify and plant drought-resistant crops, such as vegetables.
They expect more damage to rainfed fields, Tagle said.*
[sibwp_form id=1]