A highly destructive insect infestation has hit 2,249 hectares of sugarcane fields across Negros and Panay, affecting 1,108 farmers.
Data released by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Monday, June 15, showed Negros Occidental has taken the hardest hit by the increased Red-Striped Soft Scale Infestation (RSSI).
The SRA’s consolidated monitoring figures as of June 5 show that the sap-sucking insect has severely affected 1,108 farmers across 195 barangays.
Negros Occidental bears the brunt of the devastation with over 2,000 hectares of infested crops.
Bago City is currently the hardest-hit locality, logging 406.02 hectares of damaged crops affecting 321 farmers.
It is closely followed by La Castellana with 226.36 hectares and Cadiz City with 216.70 hectares.
Massive damage has also been logged in districts like Murcia – 193.86 hectares, Pontevedra – 132.92 hectares, Kabankalan City -108.74 hectares, and Sagay City – 84 hectares.
Other affected areas include Victorias City – 67.59 hectares, Manapla – 66.34 hectares, Don Salvador Benedicto – 66.92 hectares, Silay City – 55.34 hectares, and Calatrava – 52.75 hectares.
Smaller agricultural damage has been registered across Hinigaran, Ilog, La Carlota City, San Carlos City, EB Magalona, Escalante City, Toboso, Isabela, Cauayan, Talisay City, Bacolod City, and Binalbagan.
NEGROS ORIENTAL
In Negros Oriental, 150.70 hectares have been hit by the RSSI, affecting 47 local farmers in 17 barangays.
Bayawan City was the worst hit in the province with 85.30 hectares of affected crops and 24 distressed farmers, followed by Canlaon City with 26.60 hectares, Guihulngan with 18 hectares, Vallehermoso with 13.80 hectares, and Mabinay with 7 hectares.
PANAY ISLAND
Beyond Negros Island, the pest has breached sugarcane fields on Panay Island, specifically in Iloilo and Capiz.
In Iloilo, 85.70 hectares of standing canes have been compromised, affecting 41 farmers across 23 barangays.
The areas hit in Iloilo include Passi City with 32.50 hectares of damage, followed by Janiuay with 15.40 hectares, San Rafael – 8 hectares, Estancia – 7.90 hectares, San Enrique – 7.85 hectares, Dueñas – 7 hectares, Banate – 4.55 hectares, and Anilao – 2.50 hectares.
Meanwhile, Capiz has reported 22.03 hectares of infested land across 5 barangays, impacting 23 farmers.
The majority of the Capiz damage is concentrated in President Roxas with 13.12 hectares and Pilar – 8.70 hectares, with a minor footprint observed in Pontevedra at 0.20 hectares.
As part of the ongoing emergency interventions by the SRA against the RSSI, a drone application of insecticide was effectively carried out at Hda. Agho, Barangay Camandag, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, June 11, it said.
The utilization of drone technology is a component of the SRA’s enhanced initiatives to address the proliferation of RSSI in regions where sugarcane is cultivated, the agency said.
By utilizing aerial spraying tools and skilled personnel, the agency seeks to deliver a swift, efficient, and precise application of control measures.
This approach aims to reduce pest populations, minimize crop damage, and improve sugarcane productivity in affected areas while reducing additional harm to existing sugarcane crops, the SRA said.
The SRA noted that the operation’s successful execution was supported by favorable weather conditions and the collaboration of the involved farmers.
Ongoing monitoring and subsequent interventions will be performed to evaluate the treatment’s effectiveness and enhance the overall RSSI management program within the La Carlota Mill District.
“We started our RSSI drone and manual spraying of insecticide last week in several barangays in Isabela. The whole of Negros is affected, so the spraying will continue in other areas,” Sugar Board Member David Andrew Lizares Sanson said on Sunday.
The spraying of fungus to fight the RSSI also started last month, he added.*
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