Rains destroy crops in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY – Nineteen barangays from six local government units in Negros Occidental reported that damage to crops reached nearly R1.8 million due to continuous rains spawned by the ‘habagat’ and typhoon Henry last week, records from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) showed yesterday.

In OPA’s progress report released to the media yesterday, it said that 367 farmers were affected as R1,798,872.50 worth of crops in 461.05 hectares of farmlands were damaged.

The LGUs affected were Kabankalan City and towns of San Enrique, Pulupandan, Binalbagan, Hinigaran and Moises Padilla.

Rice crop were reported to have the highest damage estimated at R1,783,406.50 while damage in corn pegged at R15,466.

The municipality of San Enrique in the fourth congressional district of Negros Occidental has reported the biggest crop damage (R592,530 covering 83.26 has., of 54 farmers in four barangays).

The crops affected were at seedling, vegetative, and reproductive stages, the report said.

Records also showed that the municipality of Hinigaran reported the largest area affected by habagat at 192.5 has., with damage estimated at R519,750 that affected 181 farmers in three barangays.

The municipality of Pulupandan reported crop damage worth R267,556 covering 13.25 has. whoch affected 11 farmers in three barangays, while Kabankalan City recorded R209,803 in crop damage covering 35.8 has. of rice fields of 38 farmers in two barangays.

OPA records also showed that crop damage in Moises Padilla town reached over R185,000 while Binalbagan incurred crops loses worth R22,975.