BACOLOD City – The ongoing dry conditions attributed to the El Niño phenomenon have caused crop damage in Negros Occidental, now estimated at P24.9 million.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has released its latest evaluation report, indicating that 539 hectares of farmland have been impacted, predominantly in the southern part of the province.
Hinoba-an, the town most severely affected, has seen 180 hectares of its farmland and 178 of its farmers suffer across 13 villages.
Cauayan, once the hardest-hit town, has reporteds 102 hectares of damaged farmland in 12 villages, with 104 farmers experiencing losses due to the dry spell.
The list of other affected local government units includes the towns of Ilog, Isabela, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, and the cities of Himamaylan and Sipalay.
Cong. Emilio Yulo III of the 5th District said he had alerted the Department of Agriculture and the Sugar Regulatory Administration about the necessity for cloud seeding operations in the district two months prior.
He lamented the limitations of his office in providing aid to every affected farmer and reiterated the urgency for cloud seeding by the mentioned agencies, as the dry spell worsens.
He also emphasized the need for national government intervention. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
