• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Drought has brought damage to rice and corn crops amounting to P184.764 million in Negros Occidental, based on the report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) as of April 16.
Also affected are 4,574 farmers tilling 3,288.54 hectares of rice and corn lands in 178 barangays in 25 local government units (LGUs), the report further said.
OPA officer-in-charge Dina Genzola, in her report to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, said that Cauayan town was the hardest-hit with P67.8 million in damage, affecting 1,128 farmers planting in 579.57 hectares of rice and corn lands.
Genzola also reported that rice crops incurred P180.026 million in damage while damage to corn crops reached P4.737 million.
Other affected LGUs include San Carlos City, Don Salvador Benedicto, Sagay City, Murcia, Talisay City, E.B. Magalona, Silay City, Valladolid, San Enrique, Bago City, Pulupandan, Pontevedra, Himamaylan City, Isabela, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, La Castellana, Hinobaan, Sipalay City, Kabankalan City and Candoni.
The report on the damage to the sugarcane industry has yet to be released by the Sugar Regulatory Administration. | GB
