Kabankalan LGU insures farmers

The Kabankalan City government said it has extended its assistance to farmers affected by the dry spell by insuring them with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC).

The City Agriculture Office (CAO) is assessing the damage caused by the dry spell on the agricultural land in 18 barangay (villages) of the city, Mayor Benjie Miranda said on Thursday, February 29.

Miranda said the affected farmers are being helped by the city government.

“I am waiting for the recommendation of the CAO on what actions to take to help the farmers,” the mayor said.

“If the recommendation requires legislative action from the Sangguniang Panglunsod, we make the necessary actions,” he added.

Miranda said they have also discussed the possibility of requesting for cloud seeding operations in the affected areas.

However, he said they are concerned that rain induced from the process may not fall on agricultural areas.

“It’s not a highly recommended action to address dry spell,” he pointed out.

Officials are also considering declaring a state of calamity depending on the assessment and recommendations.

A report from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson showed that damage to rice and corn land in nine local government units in southern Negros Occidental has reached P55,412,924.69 as of February 26.

Rice crops sustained damage of up to P55,255,071.89 while corn was also hit, incurring damage of P157,852.80.

The report also showed that 79 villages, 1,213 farmers, and 1,064.14 hectares of rice and corn land affected by the dry spell.

The dry spell hit corn crops in Sipalay City’s Barangay Manlucahoc and Camindangan.

Of the rice lands affected by the dry spell, Kabankalan City was the most hit with damage reportedly reaching P22,834,450.80 with 13 villages, 505 farmers and 431.60 hectares affected.

Cauayan town registered damage of P14,001,40 in 17 villages, with 197 farmers and 176.66 hectares affected.

Neighboring Ilog sustained agriculture damage of up to P7,487,370.24, with four villages and 110 farmers in 100.68 hectares affected.

Himamaylan City reported damage of P3,732,556.92 in eight villages, with 110 farmers tilling 78.15 hectares affected.

Hinigaran reported damage to rice land at P1,751,055.20 affecting five villages and 51.

Sipalay City meanwhile, incurred damage of P1,623,445.63 in six villages.

In Binalbagan, four villages were affected, while in Moises Padilla, two villages were hit.

Governor Lacson, in a radio interview, said the provincial government has no plans yet to declare a state of calamity.