• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Negros Occidental has recorded damage and losses due to El Niño phenomenon now at P12.8 million.
Acting Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said Tuesday that the dry spell has affected 346 hectares of rice lands in 36 barangays in the cities of Himamaylan and Sipalay as well as the municipalities of Isabela, Binalbagan, Hinobaan, Moises Padilla and Cauayan.
It also affected 373 farmers in the seven local government units.
Genzola said that while heavy, moderate and light rains were monitored in areas of 20 other local government units, no rain was monitored in southern Negros cities and municipalities.
She advised the affected rice farmers to process their insurance claims.
The affected rice fields were reported as either in vegetative stage or ready for harvest.
Most of the affected rice crops are considered rainfed and located in upland areas. | GB
