• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
There is no chance of recovery for the 3,204 hectares of agricultural land damaged by Typhoons Tino and Uwan in Negros Occidental, according to the Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR).
DA-NIR OIC Regional Executive Director Jose Albert Barrogo said these farm areas, especially in La Castellana and La Carlota City in Negros Occidental, are now covered with boulders, mud, and debris.
A report of the DA-NIR showed more than 10,000 hectares of agricultural land were damaged by Typhoon Tino on Nov. 4, which was followed by Typhoon Uwan days later.
Losses in agricultural crops, livestock, and poultry was placed at more than P1 billion as of Nov. 18.
Some 21,053 farmers, who are tilling about 10,010 hectares of rice, corn, and high value crops, were affected.
Barrogo said the farmers may no longer be able to return to the badly-affected areas for a period of six to eight months.
Since they have no livelihood during the period, Barrogo said he recommended that the affected farmers be included in the chicken layer project, a DA program that aims to boost local egg production through small-scale, community-based chicken farming, and also be provided with carabaos.
Losses were also reported in livestock and poultry, farm irrigation facilities, and machinery and equipment. | GB
