ILOILO CITY (PNA) – The damage caused by the El Niño dry spell phenomenon in rice lands in Western Visayas have reached some P761.2 million, with 43,187 farmers already feeling its impact.

This was revealed by Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Larry Nacionales, who stressed that all concerned agencies are ready with various support programs to assist farmers heavily affected by the drought in the region.

He said such agencies as the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as well as the DA are using their existing regular funds which will subsequently be replenished when funds intended to address the El Niño problem is already available.

Data validated by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) showed that the drought has affected some 46,407.70 of rice lands in Western Visayas, 13,905.82 of which are totally damaged and with 32,501.88 hectares having chances of recovery.

Iloilo province has the highest number of affected areas with 31,058 hectares. Of such hectarage, 10,763 are totally damaged while the remaining 20,295.69 are partially damaged.

In Capiz province, 13,352 hectares of rice lands have been affected; 2,769 hectares are totally damaged and 10,583 have chances of recovery.

Negros Occidental has 434.57 hectares of rice lands affected, 7.55 hectares of which are totally damaged and 427.02 partial damaged.

For its part, Guimaras province has 393.5 hectares of affected rice lands, 332.63 of which are totally damaged and 360.94 partially damaged.

Based on such validated data, some 27,116 farmers are affected in Iloilo; 13,390 in Capiz; 1,331 in Antique; 392 in Negros Occidental; and 958 farmers in Antique.

Nacionales added that the drought has affected a minimal portion of corn plantations in the region.

He pointed to some 2,698 hectares affected, with 87.5 hectares totally damaged and 2,601 hectares with chances of recovery.

He said that data coming from local government units have yet to be validated by the DA team and the BAS because “some do not reflect the real situation or are bloated.”

Nacionales added that to date, his office has been receiving reports that the drought has already hit Negros Occidental’s livestock sector.

Currently, his office is in the process of collating data on that particular matter.