THE damage left by Tropical Storm Dante to the agriculture sector of Negros Occidental has increased to about P8.3 million.
For crops, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported Monday, June 7, almost P7.6 million worth of production losses.
The figure covers 502.25 hectares of rice and high-value crop farms affecting 540 farmers in 51 barangays of nine localities in the province.
OPA noted the highest amount of damage in the rice sector.
Its latest report showed that 60 rice farmers in Hinoba-an town incurred the biggest amount of damage and losses, at P2.32 million.
The amount accounts for 93 hectares of damaged farms in six barangays.
It is followed by Moises Padilla with P1.7 million worth of production losses covering 51 affected farmers with almost 63-hectare farms in five barangays.
Some 256 farmers in Bago City incurred P1.16 million worth of damage covering 178.40 hectares of farms in 14 barangays.
Twenty-eight farmers in Cadiz City incurred losses worth P881,491.88.
About 29.5 hectares of rice fields were hit in seven barangays of the northern Negros Occidental locality.
In Binalbagan, 65 farmers with a combined area of 63.34-hectare farms in four barangays incurred P601,640 in losses.
In La Carlota City, 38 farmers incurred P410,800 worth of damage. About 50.30 hectares of rice fields in three barangays were hit.
The tropical storm also hit eight farmers in four barangays of Isabela town. The amount of damage is pegged at P249,025 that accounts for 8.80-hectare farm.
In Pontevedra town, 12 farmers with a combined area of 11.69 hectares also incurred losses worth P257,535.
OPA further reported P113,775 worth of damage in Victorias City covering eight farmers with 3.70-hectare rice farms.
For high-value crops, 14 farmers with 1.35-hectare farms in two barangays of Cadiz City incurred P52,775 worth of damage and production losses
In terms of livestock and poultry sector, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) earlier reported 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 is on top of the P8,600 worth of damaged facilities like pig pens.
In the 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 the 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.