El Niño in Negros occ crops, livestock damages hit P239M

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The dry spell caused by the El Niño phenomenon has so far caused damaged of at least P239 million in crops and livestock in Negros Occidental, according to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in its report on Tuesday.

The major damage was incurred in sugarcane, the main crop of this province, at P163.3 million, the Sugar Regulatory Administration also said. The figure covered six milling districts in 15 local government units, affecting 7,909 planters over an area of 7,544 hectares.

For rice, corn, and high-value commercial crops, the OPA progress report showed P73.81 million in damage and production losses. Affected were 2,472 hectares of 2,591 farmers in 72 barangays of 12 LGUs.

The biggest crop damage and production losses of P30.75 million were recorded in the province's 5th district, covering 23 barangays in Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan and Isabela towns.

A total of 765 farmers have so far filed notices of loss with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. due to damage and production losses.

El Niño's extreme heat also caused P2.13 million worth of damage to livestock and poultry animals in 22 LGUs, said the latest report of the Provincial Veterinary Office.

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, for its part, on Tuesday approved a resolution for the conduct of cloud-seeding operations in the province.

Ma. Lina Sanogal, provincial planning and development officer, said this would allow national agencies, the Department of Agriculture, the SRA, and the Department of Science and Technology, to "access funds for cloud-seeding operations," which the Philippine Air Force had estimated to cost P3.7 million for 60 flying hours.

The DA-Negros Island Region (Region 18) also has an augmentation fund of P6.085 million to counter the effects of El Niño, Sanogal added.  (FREEMAN)