• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The infestations of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) in sugarcane farms in Negros and Panay, has spread to 1,505 hectares, as of a June 18 report of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), which has been exerting its best effort to stop the spread of the pests.
Infestations have been reported in 23 local government units in Negros and Panay, including 17 in Negros Occidental alone, affecting a total of 744 farmers in the two islands over the span of less than a month, according to a SRA report.
A total of 1,490 hectares of the RSSI affected areas are in Negros Occidental, the reports added.
However, with the help of the Department of Agriculture, a total of 97.78 hectares of sugarcane farms are recovering from the RSSI infestation.
The pest can reduce the sugar content of sugarcane by almost 50 percent, the SRA warned, citing a study conducted by the University of the Philippines (UP).
This is the first confirmed pest infestation in Negros Occidental, considered as the country’s sugar bowl, the SRA said.
While the infested farms are only a fraction of the total sugarcane fields, SRA administrator Pablo Luis Azcona admitted that “the rapid spread is worrisome.”
“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.
The extent of the recovering areas, now involving 16 farmers, is higher compared to the initial 17.61 hectares that are planted by five farmers, that was reported in northern Negros in the previous week.
Those recovering areas include sugarcane farms in E.B. Magalona – 38.62 hectares; Bago City – 22.52 hectares; Victorias City – 21.29 hectares; Manapla – 8.25 hectares; and Silay City – 3 hectares, all in Negros Occidental. Mabinay, Negros Oriental has 2.5 hectares, and 1.6 hectares in Sigma, Capiz.
Azcona urged the sugar groups and farmers to report the extent of the infestation to the SRA or through their mill district development councils for “a better picture on how to resolve the situation.”
He also urged local government units, especially in highly infested areas, to declare a state of calamity, stressing that it will help SRA in expediting the procurement of pesticides that can be immediately distributed to help abate the infestation.
The DA has already approved a P10M allocation for the purchase of pesticides. But without the proper data, our hands are tied as well on how best to approach this situation and curb the spread of the RSSI, Azcona said.*
