About P17 million worth of damage to agricultural farms and fish ponds were reported by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist after the New Year’s Day floods in the northern part of Negros Occidental.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said that in the third district, Victorias City was the hardest-hit with P5.219 million worth of harvestable rice plantations damaged in six barangays.
The affected area reached 195 hectares owned by 430 farmers.
Victorias also reported P1.806-million damage to high-value crops.
The town of E.B. Magalona posted P4.284 million worth of rice plantation damage in five barangays, affecting 595 farmers.
E.B. Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon said that aside from the damaged rice plantations, bangus fishponds in three barangays also suffered heavy losses.
Marketable size of milkfish fingerlings worth P4.1 million were washed out by floodwaters.
In Silay City, some P1.695 million worth of damage in rice plantations in four barangays were reported, affecting 213 farmers who planted in 93 hectares.
Also, P840,000 in high-value crops, P286,000 worth of shallow water fish corrals, P50,000 motorized banca, and P10,000 in oyster project were damaged in Silay.
In Talisay, some P143,900 in damage to five units of motorized banca was reported.
Meanwhile, in the second district, Cadiz City reported P302,000 worth of damage to 70.2 hectares of rice plantation, affecting 20 farmers. In Sagay, P52,000 worth of damage to rice plantation in two barangays were also reported. – MML
