Damages to crops in province due to dry spell rises to P173.576M

April 16, 2024

Damage to rice and corn crops in Negros Occidental due to drought brought by the El Niño phenomenon is now at P173,576,405.61 as of April 12, a report by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist showed.

The report showed that damage to rice crops has reached P168,838,595.73 while damage to corn is at P4,737,809.89.

Affected barangays also rose to 148 while 4,266 farmers have already been affected by the drought.

Affected rice land reached 3,116.24 hectares.

Kabankalan City remained the most affected area with damages at P41,910,361,20.

For corn, the affected villages are 19 and 165 farmers are affected in 125.72 hectares of corn land.

Calatrava is the hardest hit locality in terms of corn crop with damage amounting to P3,877,704.80.

Despite the rising numbers of affected farmers, the provincial government of Negros Occidental is “not considering a declaration of a state of calamity at this moment,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said.* (EYA)