BACOLOD City – Damages to livestock and pasture in Negros Occidental due to the El Niño phenomenon reached P16,470,150, according to the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
PVO said it affected a total of 1,139 households in 115 barangays across 24 local government units in the province.
As of 5 p.m. on May 10, PVO data showed that a total of 1,139 animal raisers were affected by a drought from the ongoing El Niño, with damage to livestock pegged at P13,784,650.
Here is the number of affected animals:
* 44 carabaos
* 24 cattle heads
* 278 goats and sheep
* 583 swine heads
* five rabbits
* 13,664 poultry birds
PVO data further showed that 183.15 hectares of pasture (withered/dried up) were affected by drought, with losses reaching P2,685,500.
The hardest hit LGUs were Hinigaran (100 hectares of pastureland), Murcia (55 hectares) and Moises Padilla (12.05 hectares).
Earlier on May 8, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist reported that agricultural damage caused by drought in the province has reached a staggering P302,224,913.33.
It has affected 8,285 farmers and 5,864 hectares of rice lands in 216 barangays across 28 LGUs.
The damage to rice crops was at P291,747,976.57, while corn crops sustained losses at P7,809,894.76. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
