By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist yesterday reported almost P17.5 million worth of crops in southern Negros were damaged due to last year’s dry spell and the recent rat infestation.

Provincial Agriculturist, Atty. Japhet Masculino, said around 550.42 hectares of rice fields were lost due to a dry spell in Hinigaran, amounting to P10,010,079 in losses between November and December of 2017.

Masculino noted, most of the rice lost in Hinigaran were either in the vegetative or maturity stage of development.

He also said around P7,469,078 worth of rice fields were damaged by rats in Himamaylan City.

The provincial official added, the local Crop Protection Team has conducted surveillance in the affected areas./DGB, WDJ