DUE to the Tungro disease that has infected rice fields in Asturias town, the affected farmers are projected to lose as much as P2.8 million worth of crops they should have harvested this month.
Asturias Municipal Agriculturist Jade Mesias said farmers who planted crops last January, will not be getting any yields this month.
Mesias said rice planted in January are to be harvested in May.
The Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA-7), said that at least 196 farmers and farm workers in Barangays Bago and Lunas, the town’s rice producing barangays, will lose P2,860,000 based on Farm Gate Price.
“Ang advise sa municipal government kay ipasunog ang mga infected nga tanom para pag eradicate sa virus ug sa carrier ani nga Green Leaf Hoppers (GLH),” he said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said the province will be distributing at least five kilos of rice and canned goods to affected farmers and farm workers within this week.