BACOLOD CITY – Despite the extensive damage to agriculture brought by Typhoon Tino, authorities assured that the rice supply in Negros Occidental remains sufficient due to an early harvest, as the holiday season is forthcoming.
Department of Agriculture Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) Director Engr. Albert Barrogo said recently that the supply is sufficient for the consumption of the province because most of the rice harvests were prior to the arrival of the typhoon.
However, the department reported that about 1,000 hectares of unharvested rice were damaged in San Carlos City. The city was said to be among the last areas to harvest their rice crops in the province.
“The majority of our rice was harvested before Typhoon Tino came in. But about 1,000 hectares of rice fields were damaged in San Carlos City because they are the ones who harvest their crops last,” Barrogo stressed, citing that the current rice supply is sufficient in the province.
The harvest period of palay, or unmilled rice, in the province is usually during the “ber” months, peaking around September-October.
Based on data released by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Typhoon Tino left more than P158 million in damage to agriculture.
Of the total, more than P105 million worth of rice damage was reported, affecting about 2,601 hectares of rice fields in 205 barangays within the province. The report added that 3,547 rice farmers were directly affected by the typhoon.
A rice importation ban has been in force over the entire Philippines starting in September, to provide farmers with an advantage during harvest season. The ban was extended until the last day of the year as per Presidential Executive Order 102.
Despite the import suspension, the latest reports showed that traders are still buying palay from the local farmer at around P11 to P13 per kilogram only, a price range that is not enough for farmers to recover their capital. (Richard Caballero via tvds)
