MORE damage and production losses brought by the recent massive flooding in Negros Occidental to the local agro-fishery sector were recorded, now reaching at about P53.6 million.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said Wednesday, January 13, that the initial damage caused by the flash floods due to heavy rains with strong winds last January 8 has further surged to almost P28.5 million.
Of the figure, the rice sector incurred the biggest amount of losses, at P15.28 million.
This covers 919 affected rice farmers with a total area of about 604 hectares in 42 barangays of Sagay City, Cadiz City, Manapla, Talisay City, Silay City and Valladolid.
Masculino said the amount is still less than the province's rice consumption for a day. "But, loss is a loss kag kaluoy sang farmers," he added.
The province's daily rice consumption is 20,000 bags. If per bag of rice costs P1,800, Negrenses consume P36 million worth of rice daily.
The report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) covering the period of January 8 to 11 further showed that the high value crop (HVC) sector incurred almost P6.64 million in damage and losses.
The figure covers 247 farmers with combined production areas of 17.95 hectares in five barangays of cities of Escalante, Talisay and Silay.
For corn, some 58 farmers in 15 barangays of Sagay City with affected areas totaling to 49.2 hectares incurred P1.11 million worth of losses.
In terms of fisheries, the flash floods, strong winds and strong waves affected some fishponds and damaged 46 units of fishing gear worth almost P5.44 million.
The figure covers 54 fishermen from 21 barangays of Talisay City, E.B. Magalona, Sagay City, Cadiz City and San Carlos City.
The damaged fishing gears included motorized banca, fish cage, lift net, fyke net, shallow water fish corral and oyster raft, while the affected area totaled to 148.7 hectares.
The OPA earlier reported an initial P16.5 million worth of damage to agro-fishery of five localities in the province following the massive flooding on January 1, 2021.
The figure covers 1,302 affected farmers and fisherfolk with a total area of 727.85 hectares in 25 barangays of Sagay City, Cadiz City, Victorias City, Silay City and E.B. Magalona.
Masculino said the affected farmers may receive an indemnity for their damaged farms if they have enrolled under the province's crop insurance program in partnership with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC).
Farmers are urged to file their notices of loss, which is a requirement in processing their insurance claims, he said, adding that the amount of losses may still increase as validation for other affected localities is ongoing.
Moreover, the damage to the province's livestock and poultry sector also increased to about P8.6 million since the first massive flooding hit the province this year.
Reports from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed that, for the flooding on January 8 to 11 alone, the sector already incurred P5.14 million worth of losses.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the amount covers animal raisers in 66 barangays of cities of Escalante, Sagay, Talisay, Silay, Victorias, Bago and La Carlota, and towns of E.B. Magalona, Pulupandan, Pontevedra, San Enrique and Valladolid.
During the flash floods on New Year's day, the PVO reported about P3.5 million worth of damage and losses covering animal raisers in 12 barangays of cities of Talisay and Victorias.
Affected animals included gamefowl, swine, free-range chicken, native chicken, duck and goat, among others.
"As first response, the PVO has conducted a veterinary medical mission to affected areas," he added.