BACOLOD CITY — Production losses of Negros Occidental’s rice and corn sectors due to monsoon rains enhanced by Tropical Storm Henry in the past week were pegged at PHP1.798 million as of Monday afternoon.
The latest report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), covering July 15 to 19, showed a total of PHP1.783 million in damage to several rice fields in six localities in southern Negros.
A corn plantation in Moises Padilla town reported PHP15,466 in production loss.
In the rice sector, 54 farmers in four villages of San Enrique town incurred losses amounting to PHP592,530 covering 83.26 hectares, while 181 farmers in three barangays of Hinigaran town, planting 192.5 hectares, reported PHP519,750 in crop damage.
Others areas affected were Pulupandan town, affecting 11 farmers with 13.25 hectares in three villages (PHP267,556); Kabankalan City, 38 farmers with 35.8 hectares in two villages (PHP209,803,50); Moises Padilla, 58 farmers with 24.79 hectares in six barangays (PHP170,892); and Binalbagan, 12 farmers with 7.75 hectares in one village (PHP22,875).
The affected farms are both irrigated and rainfed with the rice crops in seedling, reproductive, vegetative and ripening stages.
Provincial agriculturist Japhet Masculino had earlier urged uninsured farmers in Negros Occidental to avail of crop insurance to help them recover from production losses brought by calamities.
Negros Occidental has been partnering with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. in the implementation of the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program since 2011.
In the modified guidelines, the enrollment premium per cropping season remains at PHP840, but the whole amount will now be shouldered by the provincial government as a loan. Before, the province shouldered only PHP500, while the remaining PHP340 was the counterpart of the farmer-enrollees. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)