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Thursday, January 30, 2003
Negros palay production down
By Clara Mae Hortelano
THE total production of palay in Negros Occidental decreased by one percent last year due to the occurrence of El Niño phenomenon which hit the province in September.
Records of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistical Office-Provincial Operation Center show that total palay production from January to December last year was only 325,636 metric tons, a percent lower than the previous year’s production of 328,008 metric tons.
Production should have been steady if not for the reported mild El Niño which affected the production last year, said Joaly Cabarles, PASO officer-in-charge.
“Eventhough we have an increase in area, we still have a decrease in production,” he said citing last year’s total production of irrigated and rain-fed palays which reached 247,380 metric tons and 78,256 metric tons, respectively.
Cabarles also said that the province’s total palay area which was harvested last year spanned 102,500 hectares. Of which, 75,643 hectares were for irrigated palays while the 26,857, for rain-fed palays.
“Recently, we have received a (unverified) report from Kabankalan City that their crops were damaged by El Niño,” said Cabarles.
He added: “They have informed us that in the upper portion of Kabankalan, there are at least 100 hectares that were reportedly affected.”
If the report is true, the 100 hectares damaged would amount to 8,000 sacks of palay worth P2.4 million.
Not alarming
He, however, said even if the report is true, it is not alarming.
“What is 100 hectares compared to 62,000 hectares covered by the province?”
PASO said for the first quarter of this year covering the months from January to March, they are expecting a total of 23,529 hectares of palay to be harvested.
The area consists of 19,623 hectares on irrigated areas and 3,906 on rain-fed./CMH
(January 30, 2003 issue)
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