• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Areas affected by the drought due to El Niño in Negros Occidental expanded to 1,669 hectares of rice and corn lands, with damage pegged at P77.702 million as reported by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).
The OPA report stated that 1,995 farmers in 76 barangays of 11 local government units (LGUs) were affected.
Of the total damage, rice lands remained the hardest hit with P77.544 million while for corn, still at P157,852.
Kabankalan City continues to be the hardest hit LGU with damage already at P41.726 million, affecting 13 barangays and 1,214 farmers in 978.98 hectares.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Monday (March 4) said that two engineers of the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Soil and Water Management are now in Negros Occidental to check the areas for possible cloud seeding operations.
“Their initial report said the potential clouds for seeding are only present in northern Negros like Don Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Escalante City, San Carlos City and Cadiz City,” Lacson said.
Unfortunately, southern Negros, which is the hardest hit area, has clear skies, noting that places that are dependent on rain are the worst hit. | GB
