• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Pest infestations have wreaked havoc on 125 hectares of sugarcane and corn plantations in three local government units of Negros Occidental, initially affecting 208 farmers, according to reports of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
In her report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said that 82 ha of sugarcane fields were hit by armyworms in Himamaylan City, and 45 ha of cornfield in Isabela and Binalbagan, as well as Himamaylan City.
According to the Department of Agriculture, armyworms are destructive pests that got their names from their army-like movement in agricultural fields. They usually consume turf grass but would eat any vegetation in their path. They can be controlled using neem oil-based sprays, or with biological controls like earwigs, spiders, and predatory wasps.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said that he already ordered the OPA to treat it as soon as possible, after the pest infestations were monitored last week.
Negros Occidental 5th district Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo disclosed on Thursday that they already started the spraying of chemicals on affected sugarcane and corn plantations, in tandem with the Sugar Regulatory Administration and private chemical corporations, in Sitio Iling-Iling, Brgy. Cabadiangan, Himamaylan City.
Yulo said the armyworm outbreaks may have been caused by climatic change, triggered by the El Niño phenomenon and subsequent rains.
During the dry season, armyworm larvae stay close to the ground, feeding on grasses and other plants. Later on, they move up to feed on plant leaves and fruits.
The Negros solon is optimistic that the spraying of insecticides will prevent the spread of the pest infestation to other LGUs.
Armyworm and earworm infestations were reported, specifically in the barangays of Mambagaton, Carabalan, and Cabadiangan in Himamaylan City, and the barangays of Cansalongon and Camang-Camang in Isabela, and Brgy. Santol in Binalbagan.
The city of Himamaylan, as well as Binalbagan and Isabela, form part of the Negros Occidental 5th district, represented by Yulo in the House of Representatives.
Genzola said that local government units have already been alerted of the pest infestation.*
