P7-M worth of Kidapawan agri products damaged by dry spell

KIDAPAWAN CITY - About P7 million worth of agricultural products in Kidapawan Cityhave been damaged beyond recovery due to dry spell, agriculture officials today said.Nesmari Espejo, acting Kidapawan City agriculturist, told the Sangguniang Panglungsod most affected agricultural products are banana plantations. At least 17 hectares of banana plantations have dried up with an estimated cost of more than P6 million, Espejo told city lawmakers in her report. Her report also include about 12 hectares of corn field with about 128,000 cost of damages and P53,000 worth of coffee.Seriously affected plantations were in the villages Macebolig, Sumbac, Gayola, Kalaisan, San Isidro, Onica, Malinan, Patadon, Nuangan, Mateo, Amacion, Sibawan, Magsaysay, Paco, Singao and Indangan, all in Kidapawan City. To cushion the impact of mild El Nino, Espejo recommended the conduct of cloud seeding operations, purchase of water pumps for crops that are even heat resistant. The agriculture office report will become the basis of the local government of Kidapawan to allocate funds for dry spell assistance to affected farmers.