El Niño destroys P239-M crops, livestock in Negros

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The dry spell has so far damaged P239 million in crops and livestock in Negros Occidental.

A report of the office of the provincial agriculturist (OPA) on Tuesday said 7,544 hectares of sugarcane plantations in six milling districts sustained the most extensive damage at P163.3 million.

Damage to rice and corn and other high-value crops reached P73.81 million. At least 2,472 hectares owned by 2,591 farmers in 72 barangays were affected.

The OPA said the towns of Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan and Isabela recorded losses amounting to P30.75 million.

El Niño has also damaged P2.13 million in livestock in the province, according to the provincial veterinary office.

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council approved a resolution on Tuesday authorizing cloud seeding operations in the province to mitigate the effects of the dry spell.