By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The crop damage caused by the ongoing dry conditions due to the El Niño phenomenon in Negros Occidental is now at P24.9 million, the latest evaluation report from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) showed yesterday.

The OPA said 539 hectares of farmland, the majority of which are in southern Negros Occidental, have already been affected.

Hinoba-an town was the hardest-hit local government unit (LGU), as 180 hectares and 178 farmers in 13 villages were affected.

Cauayan town, which previously topped the most affected LGU, has 102 hectares of affected farmland and 104 farmers across 12 villages.

They are followed by the towns of Ilog, Isabela, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, and Hinigaran, as well as the cities of Himamaylan and Sipalay.

Negros Occidental 5th District Congressman Emilio Yulo III said yesterday he has already called the attention of the Department of Agriculture and the Sugar Regulatory Administration to conduct cloud seeding operations in his district.

“Our office cannot afford to give assistance to every affected farmer in the district,” Yulo said.

He said he is reiterating his call to the two agencies to conduct cloud seeding due to the worsening dry spell, adding that the national government should also step in./DGB, WDJ