By Nanette Guadalquiver
BACOLOD CITY – The latest data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) revealed that drought has desiccated approximately 3,241 hectares of rice and corn fields across 24 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental.
As of Wednesday, a total of 4,431 farmers in 167 barangays have been affected, with reported crop damages reaching PHP173.576 million from November 2023 to April 12, 2024.
Dina Genzola, the OPA officer-in-charge, confirmed that they have submitted the updated damage report to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson. Lacson had previously announced that the provincial government would extend cash assistance to the affected farmers.
Based on the report, a total of 3,116 hectares of rice fields in 23 LGUs have been damaged amounting to PHP168.838 million.
Some 4,266 farmers in 148 barangays have been affected.
Worst-hit are rice farms in the south, particularly Cauayan town and Kabankalan City.
In Cauayan alone, rice fields in 20 of its 25 villages planted by 1,128 farmers have been affected, with total damage pegged at PHP67.889 million while in Kabankalan, 13 barangays with 1,214 farmers reported damage worth PHP41.910 million.
The other affected LGUS include Candoni, Bago City, Himamaylan City, San Enrique, Valladolid, E.B. Magalona, and Hinoba-an.
Damage to corn, which was reported in five LGUs, reached PHP4.737 million.
Calatrava town logged the highest total damage of PHP3.877 million, affecting 83.29 hectares planted by 110 farmers in 13 barangays.
Other affected LGUs include the municipalities of Don Salvador Benedicto, Murcia, Isabela, and Sipalay City. (PNA)
