SRA consolidates reports of sugarcane field damages in Negros
BACOLOD City – The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is currently consolidating reports in connection to damaged sugarcane fields in Negros island due to the intense heat brought by the El Niño phenomenon.
Ma. Lourdes Almodiente, SRA chief agriculturist, said they have been receiving reports of damaged sugarcane fields.
Almodiente said a data on this is expected to be released next week once they have received the reports from their mill district offices.
The report will also include the entire Visayas, although the SRA confirmed they have received initial reports that the southern and central Negros incurred the most intense damage.
Almodiente said they have been informing sugar farmers prior to the El Niño by tapping the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and presenting projections to the farmers.
The SRA will also hand over irrigation facilities to the recipients of their rapid propagation to save the sugarcane plants, as well as provide fertilizer.
As to plans for conducting cloud seeding operations, Almodiente said the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management are in talks over the proposal.
She added that from the initial information they have gathered, Negros is currently the hardest hit, while some parts of the Visayas such as Cebu, Leyte and Panay are still experiencing rains.
Earlier on Monday, March 4, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Negros Occidental revealed that damage to agriculture has reached more than P77.5 million.
OPA said around 1,646 hectares of farmland have been affected across 11 local government units.
A total of 1,963 farmers have been affected.
Kabankalan City recorded the highest worth of damage to agriculture at P41,726,761.01, followed by Cauayan town at P14,001,540. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
Source Link:https://www.panaynews.net/sra-consolidates-reports-of-sugarcane-field-damages-in-negros/
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