THE Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has reported a crop damage, particularly in the rice sector of Negros Occidental, worth about P11.3 million due to the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Hannah.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, in a report to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Friday, August 9, said the amount accounts for the production losses caused by "habagat" starting August 3.
It covers 811 affected farmers with a total area of about 9,058 hectares in 18 barangays of Bago City, he added.
Based on the report, most of the affected rice farms are in maturing and reproductive stages with a small portion at seedling and vegetative stages.
Bago City is considered the rice granary of Negros Occidental, producing about 25 percent of the province's total production output.
Earlier, the OPA also reported a total of P19 million worth of crop damage due to heavy rains and flooding brought by Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Falcon.
The figure comprises 1,636 affected farmers with 2,580-hectare of rice and corn plantation in 61 barangays of seven localities.