LINGAYEN, Oct. 6 -- A total of 5,711 farmers in Pangasinan have been severely affected by weather disturbances from Sept. 16 to 30 this year, which also resulted in production losses worth an estimated PHP261.6 million, according to the Provincial Agriculture Office.

Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya, during the question hour at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) session on Monday, said of the total number, 5,018 are rice farmers, 119 corn farmers, 551 vegetable farmers, and 23 from the fishery sector.

"The weather disturbances Mirasol, Nando, and Opong have caused havoc to mostly rice farmers who are in their first cropping season," she said.

The weather disturbances severely damaged 4,578 hectares of palay or 10,168 ...