• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Monsoon rains, locally known as “habagat”, have destroyed P296.150 million worth of crops and fisheries in Negros Occidental as of Sept. 29.
In a consolidated report, the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) said that rice crops were the hardest hit, with damage pegged at P275.980 million, followed by fisheries, P11.158 million; high-value crops, P5.901 million; and corn, P3.11 million.
The OPA also reported that 7,086 rice farmers in 194 barangays of 26 local government units were affected by the inclement weather enhanced by tropical storms Ferdie and Gener.
Also damaged were 6,148.74 hectares of ricelands, 79.18 hectares of rice and high-value crops areas, and 481.74 hectares of fishery areas. | GB
