The El Niño drought has damaged P97,788,037 in crops and affected 2,585 farmers in 20 out of 31 local government units in Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, April 2.
Damage to rice crops was P93,050,227 and to corn – P4,737,809 as of March 27 , Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola informed the governor.
Rice crop damage was highest in Kabankalan City at P41,910,361 followed by Cauayan at P14,001,540, Ilog – P7,487,370, Bago City – P7,174,621, Himamaylan City – P3,732,556, Valladolid – P3,442,846, Hinoba-an – P2,525,595, Candoni – P1,902,455;
Sipalay City – P1,697,533, Binalbagan – P1,202,640, San Enrique – P1,182,568, Talisay City – P1,115,504, San Carlos City – P929,248, Pulupandan – P818,469, Don 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.
Affected were 2,189 hectares of agricultural land in 135 barangays, Genzola said.*