THE amount of agriculture losses brought by heavy rains in some portions of Negros Occidental has surged to over P14 million.
For crops alone, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported Tuesday, June 8, initial losses worth almost P13.96 million.
The figure covers 893 affected rice and high-value crops farmers with combined areas of 861.68 hectares in 68 barangays in 11 localities in the province.
San Enrique rice farmers incurred the biggest amount of losses, with P2.96 million.
It is followed by Himamaylan City - P2.76 million; Hinoba-an - P2.32 million; Moises Padilla - P1.70 million; Bago City - P1.16 million; Cadiz City - P881,491; Binalbagan - P601,640; Victorias City - P458,024; La Carlota City - P410,800; Pontevedra - P391,185; and Isabela - P270,375.
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.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said the bulk of the damage, at about P11 million, was incurred by affected farmers due to the onslaught of Tropical Storm Dante last week.
That of the rice farmers in San Enrique was caused by heavy rains last June 5 to 7 due to localized thunderstorms, Masculino said.
The deadline for the submission of production losses and damage for other local government units is June 9, he said, adding that "so the amount may still increase."
In terms of livestock and poultry sector, the Provincial Veterinary Office earlier reported damage worth about P583,468 also due to the typhoon.