BACOLOD CITY – Farmers and fisherfolk in Negros Occidental incurred more than PHP42 million worth of damage and losses due to floods last weekend.
As of Wednesday, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported that the massive floods brought by heavy rains with strong winds on Jan. 8 destroyed crops worth almost PHP21.5 million.
Affected were 973 farmers with combined production areas of 679.64 hectares located in 54 barangays of eight local government units (LGUs).
The OPA report, which covers the period from Jan. 8 to 12, said the rice sector posted the highest amount of damage and production losses amounting to PHP15.78 million.
In Valladolid, 141 rice farmers in 11 barangays incurred PHP7.5 million in damage and losses, affecting 251.5 hectares in the southern Negros town.
Silay City posted PHP3.75 million in production losses among 384 farmers with 156.11 hectares in five barangays while Sagay City, PHP2.17 million, affecting 262 rice farmers with a total area of 186.53 hectares in 13 barangays.
Also affected were farmers in Cadiz City, with PHP1.43 million in losses; Manapla, PHP191,310; and Talisay City, PHP72,662.
Some 79 farmers with 62.54-hectare rice farms incurred losses in Cadiz City while in Manapla, 24 farmers with 12.18 hectares.
In Talisay, the floods hit 22 rice farmers with 6.93 hectares of farm areas affected.
The high-value crops sector reported PHP5.78 million worth of damage and production losses, affecting 45 farmers with combined areas of 3.85 hectares in four barangays of Talisay and Silay.
The fishery sector also incurred damage and losses amounting to PHP591,980, the OPA report added.
Damage to fish cages, lift net, fyke net, water fish corral, oyster raft, motorized banca, and crab fishing gears were reported.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Veterinary Office recorded PHP1.04 million worth of losses to the province’s livestock and poultry sector.
From Jan. 8 to 11, animal raisers from 36 barangays in 11 LGU were affected. These included those raising gamefowl, swine, free-range chicken, native chicken, duck, and goat. (PNA)
