KIDAPAWAN CITY—Damage to agricultural crops in North Cotabato as brought about by the ill effects of drought–spawned El Niño weather phenomenon has reached P172 million, the provincial agricultural office said.
Data obtained from the office noted that of the total damage, P55 million worth of rice and corn crops destroyed was due to rat infestation.
The same report indicated that the province has not experienced sufficient downpour for rain-fed farmlands over the past three months, with the dry spell even causing some small river tributaries and creeks to dry up.
In this city, local legislators swiftly approved during a session on Tuesday the release of calamity funds to cushion the effect of the famine.
Mayor Joseph Evangelista, concurrent chair of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said that close to P30 million worth of value crops that included rice, corn, coconut, rubber, and sugarcane were damaged by the scorching climate in 266 hectares of farmlands here since November last year.
A total of 553 farmers from the city’s 18 villages were severely affected by the drought, he added.
Moreover, the mayor said farm yields from three remote villages here namely Onica, Macebolig, and Kalaisan, were racked up by rodents in numerous attacks.
Evangelista said a locally initiated calamity intervention program is underway to combat dengue, rat and rice black bug infestation all at the same time.