Bohol crop losses climb to P173-M as drought worsen

TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — Crop losses in Bohol have reached an estimated P173.69 million due to the prolonged dry spell linked to El Niño, affecting 6,676 farmers in 24 of the province’s 48 municipalities and city, according to a partial assessment by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).

The provincial government is now preparing for a cloud-seeding operation expected to start on Oct. 9 to bring rain to drought-hit farms and help protect the province’s rice production.

Larry Pamugas, assistant provincial agriculturist, said that based on the OPA assessment, the total recorded agricultural damage reached P173,669,516.08.

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Rice accounted for 95.03 percent of the reported crop losses, followed by high-value crops at 3.03 percent and corn at 1.94 percent. No damage to cassava had been recorded.

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READ: El Niño to bring drought to all provinces by March 2027 – DOST

San Miguel posted the highest reported losses at P53.2 million, followed by Sagbayan with P19.3 million, Batuan with P16.1 million, Inabanga with P12.5 million and Bilar with P10.9 million.

Other affected areas included Tubigon, P9 million; Catigbian, P8 million; Buenavista, P7.9 million; Calape, P6.9 million; and Getafe, P3.5 million.

The OPA said the figure could still increase as assessment continues in local government units that have yet to complete their reports.

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OPA Agricultural Technologist and Rice Program Focal Person Maricel Barloso said the province could face a significantly reduced rice harvest because dry conditions struck during the critical July-August period when rice plants were developing.

Only about 55 percent of Bohol’s potential rice-growing area was planted during the past wet cropping season, she said during a Kapihan sa PIA forum.

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Of the province’s estimated 53,800 hectares of plantable rice land, only about 30,000 hectares were planted, with a significant portion later damaged by the heat and lack of water.

Barloso said the OPA could not yet determine whether even half of the planted area would eventually produce a harvest.

Some farmers were unable to plant in May despite the release of water from dams. Farmers in areas with insufficient water opted not to plant, while those who planted late saw their crops affected by the heat.

Still, about 2,600 hectares have already been harvested, while more than half of the planted area was still being harvested, Barloso said.

The OPA has urged farmers to prepare seeds, particularly upland rice varieties that can tolerate heat and require less water, as intermittent rains begin.

The cloud-seeding operation is expected to begin Oct. 9, following coordination between the provincial government, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The OPA also continues to consolidate damage reports from LGUs and coordinate with government agencies for possible assistance to affected farmers, including irrigation support and the promotion of drought-tolerant crops.

Meanwhile, authorities are bracing for the continuing effects of El Niño. All provinces in the country are expected to experience drought by March 2027 as the phenomenon intensifies.

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Drought is generally characterized by several consecutive months of unusually low rainfall. It is considered to occur when rainfall is more than 60 percent below normal for three consecutive months, or 21 to 60 percent below normal for five consecutive months. /cb