Negros Occidental records P42 million in El Niño crop damage

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental has tallied P42.41 million in crop damage attributed to the dry spell triggered by El Niño weather patterns affecting several areas of the province, according to provincial government records.

The losses were documented in a report submitted by the acting provincial agriculturist to provincial authorities. The damage assessment underscores the severe impact of the weather phenomenon on the region's agricultural sector, which remains a critical component of the local economy.

The mounting crop losses prompted several local government units in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, to declare a state of calamity in response to the drought conditions. Such declarations typically enable municipalities and cities to access emergency funds and seek assistance for affected farmers and communities.

El Niño-induced dry spells have long posed challenges to farming operations across the Philippines, particularly in regions dependent on rain-fed agriculture. The phenomenon, characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific, disrupts normal rainfall patterns and can extend dry seasons beyond typical periods.