• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The 3,204 hectares of agricultural land that were damaged by Typhoons Tino and Uwan in Negros Occidental, have no chance of recovery, the Department of Agriculture has declared.
The affected farm areas, especially in La Castellana and La Carlota City in Negros Occidental, are now covered with boulders, mud, and debris, according to Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo, officer-in-charge Regional Executive Director of the DA-NIR.
A report of DA-NIR said that more than 10,000 hectares of agricultural land were damaged by Typhoon Tino, followed by Typhoon Uwan, in Negros Occidental.
Losses to agricultural crops, livestock, and poultry was estimated by DA-NIR at P1,000,819.517, as of November 18.
It affected 21,053 farmers, who are tilling 10,010.15 hectares of rice, corn, and high value crops.
Barrogo said it may take six to eight months before the farmers can return to the badly affected areas.
Since they have no livelihood during that period, Barrogo said he recommended that the affected farmers should be included in the Chicken Layer Project, a program of the DA to boost local egg production through small-scale, community-based chicken farming, and provide them with carabaos.
The losses also include livestock and poultry, farm irrigation facilities, machinery and equipment.*
