El Niño agri damage in NegOcc breaches P173.6M

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Around 3,241 hectares of rice and corn fields in 24 local government units across Negros Occidental were affected by the El Niño phenomenon, according to the latest data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist. Photo shows a dried-up rice farm in southern Negros Occidental. OPA-NEGROS OCCIDENTAL PHOTO

BY JEN BAYLON

BACOLOD City – Damage to agriculture due to the ongoing drought triggered by the El Niño phenomenon in Negros Occidental has reached P173,576,405.61 as of April 12.

Data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) showed that Cauayan town posted the highest amount of rice losses with P67,889,229, followed by Kabankalan City with P41.9 million

For corn, Calatrava farmers incurred the highest damage at P3.8 million.

OPA data further showed that a total of 167 barangays reported damage to crops, impacting 4,431 farmers.

Dina Genzola, OPA officer-in-charge, said they have already submitted the updated damage report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.

The governor earlier announced that the provincial government is processing a financial aid of P2,000 for affected farmers with crops damaged by El Niño./PN