2 days ago
Pest infestation expands to 1,505 hectares of sugar farms —SRA
The threat of Red Striped Softscale Insect (RSSI) infestation in sugarcane farms in Western Visayas has expanded further, now covering over a thousand hectares of production area, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said Thursday.
In a statement, SRA Administrator Pablo Azcona said that 'from 87 hectares of RSSI infestation, it has expanded to over 1,505 hectares in less than a month, the bulk of which is in the heart of sugarlandia, Negros Occidental, where it has spread to 1,490 hectares.'
The rest of the infestations are in Iloilo, Capiz, and Negros Oriental.
'While this is still a fraction of sugar cane fields, the rapid spread is worrisome and I believe that the real data can even be bigger as there are farms that have started their own remedy without reporting the matter to SRA,' Azcona said.
'On a positive note, there are 97 hectares monitored to have been recovering and that is a good sign,' he said.
The RSSI damages sugarcane by sucking leaf sap, causing foliage to die. Its excrement also encourages fungal growth that can kill the plant. Azcona noted the seriousness of the situation, especially during the harvest season, when sugarcane and planting materials are frequently transported across regions.
To contain the pest, SRA said it has distributed pesticides, dispatched technical teams to train farmers, and requested emergency powers to use stronger pest-control chemicals.
'I am urging all sugar groups and farmers to report the extent of infestation in their farmlands to the SRA or through their MDDCs (Mill District Development Councils) to provide us a better picture on how to resolve the situation,' Azcona said.
The SRA chief also called on local government units, especially in highly infested areas, 'to declare a state of emergency as this will help us in expediting procurement of pesticides that can be immediately distributed to help abate this infestation.'
'The DA has approved a P10-million allocation for pesticide purchase but without the proper data, our hands are tied as well on how best to approach this situation and curb the spread of the RSS,' he said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
