An estimated PHP2.7 million worth of palay (unhusked rice) from this province was damaged due to heavy monsoon rains.
Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) Natural Calamity Focal Person Serafin Yanga, in an interview Friday, said eight municipalities have reported damage based on their monitoring from July 19 to 29.
Damage to crops was reported in the municipalities of Tobias Fornier, Valderrama, San Remigio, Hamtic, Laua-an, Patnongon, Sebaste and Tibiao, covering an area of 171.85 hectares affecting 201 farmers.
“The eight towns incurred damages with an estimated amount of PHP2.7 million due to the flooding on their palay fields,” he said.
In a separate interview, Provincial Seed Coordinator Arlene Delos Reyes said they had already provided assistance through the provision of seeds to the municipalities of Tobias Fornier with 50 bags, Hamtic with 40 bags, and San Remigio with 100 bags as of July 28.
“The Municipal Agriculture Officers (MAOs) of the other towns that have damage reports are also being advised to coordinate with our office so that they could be provided with assistance,” she said.
She said the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office 6 has still a buffer stock of 600 bags in their warehouse in Barangay Badiang here, which could be used for replanting by affected farmers.
“One bag of seeds is being given as replanting material for every hectare that had been damaged by the southwest monsoon,” she said.
Yanga said they are expecting another 600 bags of seeds as assistance from the DA Regional Office 6.
“There are DA Regional Office 6 personnel right now in Antique who are validating the affected municipalities so that they could be given assistance,” he said. (PNA)
Source: Philippines News Agency