TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol- The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) here reported that the El Niño has caused an initial damage of P61.5 million to rice and corn crops in at least eight municipalities in this province.

The OPA report stated that the initial damage to rice crops reached P 55,912,753, while corn crops posted a partial damage of P 5,601, 486.

The damage is expected to rise as soon as the documentation and validation are completed by OPA.

The OPA is still assessing the damage caused by the prolonged drought.

Hardest hit was the municipality of Trinidad with a whooping damage of P21, 424, 330.41 and P 3,031, 383.05 for rice and corn, respectively, adversely affecting a total of 2,562 and 1,757 hectares, respectively.

The town of Buenavista also suffered a total of P 13,045,078 damage in rice crops involving 1,087 farmers tilling 915 hectares in 23 barangays.

Getafe also reported a total damage of P 6,962, 695.80 in rice and affected 638 farmers in 11 barangays.

Other towns with their corresponding damage (in rice) included Inabanga, P4,811, 569; Candijay, P4, 468, 099.20; Talibon, P2,574,222.90; Bein-Unido, P1, 678, 050; and Pres. C. P. Garcia, P948,710. The drought adversely affected 2,142 farmers in these towns.

Also, the town of Inabanga succumbed to the nature’s wrath with P2, 093,293 worth of corn crops destroyed, affecting 301 farmers, 272 hectares in 20 barangays out of 50 barangays.

Other municipalities with corn crops devastated by the El Niño included Bien Unido, P 94,300; CPG, P55,410; and Candijay, P327,100. This affected 73 farmers.