Rat, bug destroy P11-M worth of crops in Kabacan, North Cotabato

COTABATO CITY -- Rat and black bug infestation in farming communities in Kabacan, North Cotabato have destroyed more than P11 million worth of agricultural crops from October to December this year, disaster officials today said.With the crop damages continue to rise, the town Sangguniang on Friday declared the entire town under state of calamity to allow the local government unit to use its calamity fund to cushion the impact of infestation.David Don Saure, Kabacan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), said nine of 24 villages have been affected by rat attacks and black bug infestation.Kabacan is North Cotabato's rice producing town that earned recognition not only in the province but region-wide. It is more known as North Cotabato's rice granary.Saure said the municipal agriculture office, in its assessment report, reported that the infestation has affected more than 500 hectares.It also affected 491 farm families in seven villages.Saure said as of Dec. 13, the total cost of damages to crops was pegged at P11,420,942.Severely affected villages are Cuyapon, Dagupan, Katidtuan, Lower Paatan, Upper Paatan, Pisan, Malamote, Kilagasan and Aringay. Saure said other communities were also affected, not only by bugs and rat attacks but also floods due to frequent light to moderate rains.Last year, Kabacan had experienced massive rat infestation that affected more than P24-M worth of crops. The local government also launched rat tails for rice, where farmers collect rat tails in exchange for a kilo of rice.