THE recent onslaught of Tropical Storm Dante has left over P5 million worth of damage and losses to the agro-fishery sector of Negros Occidental.
For crops, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) on Friday, June 4, 2021, reported a total of about P4.46 million in production losses.
The figure covers 176.88-hectare of rice farms affecting 143 farmers in 24 barangays of five local government units (LGUs) in the province.
The report covering the period of May 31 to June 2, 2021, showed that 60 rice farmers in Hinoba-an town incurred the biggest amount of damage and losses, P2.31 million.
The amount accounts for 93 hectares of damaged farms in six barangays.
It is followed by Moises Padilla with P888,704.48 worth of production losses covering 35 affected farmers with almost 39-hectare farms in five barangays.
Twenty-eight farmers in Cadiz City incurred losses worth P881,491.88.
About 29.5 hectares of rice field were hit in seven barangays of the northern Negros Occidental locality.
In Pontevedra town, 12 farmers with a combined area of 11.69 hectares incurred losses worth P257,535.
OPA also reported P113,775 worth of damage in Victorias City covering eight farmers with 3.70-hectare rice farms.
In terms of the livestock and poultry sector, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported total damage worth about P583,468 due to the typhoon.
Animal raisers in Sixth District particularly in Hinoba-an incurred the biggest losses amounting to P352,956.22.
The figure covers 135 heads of swine, free-range chicken, carabao, goat, cattle, and ducks.
This on top of the P8,600 worth of damaged facilities like pig pens.
In Fifth District, animal raisers in Binalbagan incurred P150,750 worth of losses that accounts for 118 heads of free-range chicken and duck and damaged poultry house.
The PVO reported P63,620.21 worth of losses in the Fourth District, covering 11 heads of carabao, swine, gamefowl, and broiler owned by raisers from La Carlota City and San Enrique.
In Third District, 43 heads of free-range chicken, gamefowl, and Pekin duck were affected amounting to P7,541.92.
Affected raisers are from E.B. Magalona.
Most of the affected animals were either drowned or died due to severe cold weather, it added.