DAMAGE and production losses in crops, livestock, and fisheries in Negros Occidental caused by the persisting dry spell associated with El Niño have reached P387.42 million.
In a report released on Wednesday, April 6, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said damage and production losses to rice, corn, high-value commercial crops (HVCC), and tilapia were valued at P219.47 million.
Of these losses, the rice sector suffered the most at P211.97 million, followed by corn, P3.17 million; HVCC, P4.83 million; and tilapia, P985,250.
This is in addition to the P167.95 million in losses earlier reported by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV).
Losses in crops and fishery cover 6,251.59 hectares, affecting 7,172 farmers and fisherfolk in 21 local government units (LGUs) in the province.
The Sixth District, with 4,114 affected farmers in an area covering 3,588.90 hectares in 60 barangays of Hinoba-an, Sipalay City, Cauayan, Kabankalan City, Ilog and Candoni, incurred the highest damage and losses worth P114.31 million.
It is followed by the Fifth District with P56.57 million; Fourth District, P39.85 million; Third District, P7.39 million; and First District, P2.33 million.
The OPA also reported rat infestation damage worth P498,327, covering 48 farmers in 47.36-hectares of rice farms in Isabela town.
Oppa officials earlier said that pest infestations normally occur due to changes in climactic conditions. The recent infestations are one of the side-effects of the prolonged dry weather.
Aside from rats, insects and pests such as army worms, locusts, and rice black bugs, as well as plant disease like bugtok among bananas, also arise during dry spells.
OPA continues to assess field reports in other LGUs.
Earlier, the Sugar Regulatory Administration reported damage and losses worth P163.31 million in sugarcane, the main crop of the province.
The Provincial Veterinary Office had also reported P3.16 million in damage and losses to livestock and poultry.
The dry weather in the province is associated with the El Niño phenomenon, which the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration forecasts to last throughout the first half of the year.
Addressing El Niño impact
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said on Wednesday that the administration of President Benigno Aquino II has been “fairly successful” in addressing the impact of El Niño.
Neda Director General Emmanuel Esguerra issued the statement following a clash between policemen and around 5,000 farmers who barricaded the Cotabato-Davao Highway in Kidapawan City on Friday, April 1, leaving two people dead.
The farmers asked for the release of promised relief support due to the drought brought by El Niño.
“Government has been fairly successful in mitigating the impact of El Niño, particularly in ensuring sufficiency in supply of food and keeping food prices stable,” Esguerra said after presiding over the 5th meeting of the Technical Working Group on the Roadmap to Address the Impact of El Niño or Rain.
The success could be attributed to production support like irrigation and distribution of seeds in non-vulnerable and mildly affected provinces, timely importation, and price freeze in areas that declared a state of calamity, he said.
But Esguerra, who is also the socioeconomic planning secretary, admitted that despite the success, “We are certainly bothered by the fact that there are people who still go hungry.”
He said there could be areas that are not yet being reached by government interventions.
He said the national government is banking on the help of the local government units since their role is very crucial.
“We would like to assure the public that government is doing its best to address the needs of affected areas and families, considering that they are among the poorest and most vulnerable sectors,” Esguerra said.
El Niño phenomenon has been affecting parts of the country, including Mindanao, since the latter part of last year and is expected to last until second quarter of this year. (With reports from Sunnex)