Typhoon damage to agriculture in Negros reaches P1 billion

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The amount of damage to agriculture caused by the recent calamities in Negros Occidental has reached P1 billion, prompting officials to look for an alternative livelihood for farmers.

Jose Albert Barrogo, chief of the Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR), said that of the more than 10,000 hectares of agricultural property destroyed by floodwaters, 3,204 hectares have no chance of recovery and can longer be used for farming.

These farms, particularly in La Castellana and La Carlota City, are now covered with rocks, mud and other debris brought by flash floods, Barrogo said.

The bad weather displaced 21,053 farmers who had been tilling 10,010.15 hectares of palay and corn plantations as well as high-value crops.

Damage to palay was estimated at P207 million, corn at P35 million and high-value crops, P596 million.

The livestock and poultry sector logged P140 million in losses; infrastructure, P9 million; machinery and farm equipment, P774,000, and irrigation P9.5 million.

Barrogo said he recommended the inclusion of displaced farmers in the Chicken Layer Project, a program of the DA intended to boost local egg production through small-scale, community-based chicken-farming.

Aside from the chicken-raising program, farmers must also be provided with water buffalos and included in the buffalo dispersal project.

Negros Occidental is among provinces severely devastated when Typhoon Tino struck on Nov. 4.