• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Drought brought by El Niño has caused an estimated P40.23 million in production losses in the agriculture and fisheries sectors of the Negros Island Region (NIR), affecting 1,449.15 hectares of farmland as of Oct. 20.
This is based on the latest report of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-NIR, which also identified 12 local government units (LGUs), including 11 in Negros Occidental and one in Negros Oriental, with reported damage.
Engr. Marion Tagle, DA-NIR disaster risk reduction and management chief, said on Wednesday, Oct. 21 that rain-fed rice farms are particularly vulnerable to prolonged dry conditions, especially in northern Negros Occidental, where many agricultural areas lack irrigation facilities.
Irrigated areas, including those in Bago City, Valladolid and Binalbagan, are less exposed to the effects of drought.
He said the DA-NIR is still monitoring the situation, including rain-fed and non-irrigated areas in Negros Oriental, and expects the reported damage to increase as more data become available.
Rice accounted for the bulk of the losses in Negros Occidental, with production damage estimated at P35.99 million across 1,338.77 hectares.
Of these, 41.96 hectares were destroyed while 1,296.81 hectares were damaged, but still have chance of recovery.
The affected areas in Negros Occidental include the cities of Cadiz, Escalante, Hinigaran, Kabankalan and Sagay, and the municipalities of Ilog, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Toboso and Don Salvador Benedicto.
Corn damage was also reported in Toboso, Negros Occidental and San Jose, Negros Oriental, with 18.45 hectares destroyed and 91.93 hectares damaged.
The affected area totaled 110.38 hectares, with estimated production losses of P4.24 million.
No damage to high-value crops has been reported as of Oct. 20.
To help farmers cope with prolonged dry conditions, Tagle encouraged those in rain-fed areas to diversify their crops, including planting root crops such as sweet potato and alternative crops like peanuts that may be more suitable under limited water conditions.
He added that some LGUs have started requesting planting materials to support crop diversification initiatives.
Meanwhile, Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said projections indicate that hot and dry conditions could intensify toward the end of November.
El Niño is forecast to persist from October this year through the first quarter of 2027, with its peak expected in March, raising concerns over further agricultural losses and the need for farmers and local governments to prepare for prolonged drought. | GPB
