FLOODED FARM. Photo shows a flooded rice plantation in southern Negros due to torrential rains brought about by Tropical Storm Falcon late last month. The rice sector in the province recorded losses of PHP17.7 million due to heavy rains and flooding. (PNA-Bacolod file photo)
BACOLOD CITY -- Farmers in Negros Occidental have reported almost PHP19 million in damage and crop production losses due to heavy rains and flooding caused by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Falcon in the past month.
Based on the final report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) released on Monday afternoon, 1,636 rice and corn farmers were affected in 61 barangays of seven localities, with total planted areas of 2,580 hectares.
The rice sector recorded the highest amount of losses, at PHP17.7 million.
A total of 1,584 farmers were affected, with 2,529.31 hectares of rice fields in 59 barangays of six local government units (LGUs), including Bago City, known as the rice granary of Negros Occidental. The southern Negros city reported the highest loss of about PHP6 million.
Others with reported losses are Valladolid, almost PHP3.8 million; San Enrique, PHP3.2 million; Hinigaran, PHP2.9 million; Ilog, almost PHP1.1 million; and Moises Padilla, PHP609,366.
Meanwhile, the corn sector reported losses worth almost PHP1.3 million, affecting 52 farmers in 50.70 hectares of plantation in two barangays of San Carlos City.
As of July 25, a total of 511 rice farmers, who planted in 1,300 hectares of farms in 21 LGUs, have filed notices of loss before the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to avail of indemnity claims through the Negros First Crop Insurance Program (NFUCIP).
Under the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program (NFUCIP), farmers may avail of the PHP17,000 claim per hectare of damaged farms.
Under the modified guidelines, enrollment premium per cropping season remains at PHP840, but the whole amount will now be shouldered by the provincial government as a loan.
Enrollees should apply for insurance before planting. Farms covered by the program are those planted for not less than 25 days. (PNA)
