RICE crop damage and production losses caused by continuous dry spell in Negros Occidental have reached almost P16.7 million, based on the latest report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) released Friday. The prolonged dry weather in the province is brought by persisting El Niño phenomenon, which the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecasts to last until the first half of the year. The OPA report showed that P16.667 million in losses covered 901.87 hectares of farmlands, affecting 859 rice farmers in 24 barangays of Hinigaran and Hinoba-an towns. An earlier report showed that in Hinigaran alone, the dry spell has caused P10.6 million worth of palay production losses and P4.045 million worth of damage to crops. The figures covered 282.67 hectares and affected 302 farmers who are mostly planting in rain-fed areas. Crop damage takes into account seedlings to mature palay. Production losses include reproductive to mature palay, the report added. Segregated by crop development, 224 farmers have reproductive-stage palay; 71 farmers, vegetative stage; six, maturity stage; and one farmer still growing seedlings. Dina Genzola, senior agriculturist of OPA, said that as assessment and validation of farms in other local government units continue, damage estimates may still increase. Genzola said the province is also identifying farmers who are covered by the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program (NFUCIP). Under the program, enrolled and ensured rice farmers may avail of the P17,000 claims per hectare of farms damaged and affected by dry spell, she added. Aside from crop damage and production losses, the dry spell has also affected the water level within the Bago River Irrigation System. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Provincial Office based in Bago City has recently recorded a drop of 40 centimeters in the water level. The diversion dam that forms part of the irrigation system has a depth of 52 meters. As of January 13, the water level was at 51.5 meters. According to Pagasa, dry spell occurs during three consecutive months of below normal rainfall conditions with 21 to 60 percent reduction, or two consecutive months of way below normal rainfall conditions with more than 60 percent reduction. Drought means three consecutive months of way below normal rainfall condition with more than 60 percent reduction, or five consecutive months of below normal rainfall at 21 to 60 percent reduction. Source - sunstar.com.ph