A red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) attack on sugarcane* National Crop Protection Center photo
Red-Striped Soft Scale Insects have hit 1,788.93 hectares of standing sugarcane in Negros and Panay affecting 869 farmers in 172 barangays, a Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) report showed Thursday, June 4.
Negros Occidental is the hardest-hit accounting for 1,586.90 hectares, followed by Negros Oriental 134.20 hectares, Iloilo- 45.80 hectares and Capiz 22.03 hectares.
The scale insect saps vital nutrients from the standing canes, threatening to severely stunt crop growth and diminish sugar yields.
In Central and Northern Negros Occidental, 880.01 hectares are currently affected, disrupting 324 farmers across 89 barangays.
In the north , Murcia leads the crop damage with 193.86 hectares affected, while Cadiz City closely follows with 193.34 hectares hit by the pest.
Meanwhile, in southern Negros Occidental 482 farmers have been affected in 54 barangays spanning 765.29 hectares.
The municipality of La Castellana is the hardest-hit area in the south with 226.36 hectares infested, while Bago City and Pontevedra have recorded the highest concentrations of distressed individuals, with 170 and 119 farmers affected, respectively.
Negros Oriental has recorded 75.80 hectares of damaged sugarcane fields in nine barangays, primarily impacting 21 farmers in areas like Bayawan City and Mabinay.
Crop damage has also crept into Panay Island, where Iloilo reported 45.80 hectares infested across 15 barangays—heavily affecting towns like Passi City and San Enrique.
Capiz recorded 22.03 hectares affected across 5 barangays, notably impacting President Roxas and Pilar.
The following are the RSSI areas hit by province:
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
Murcia: 193.86 ha
Cadiz City: 193.34 ha
La Castellana: 226.36 ha
Pontevedra 132.92 ha
Bago City: 120.63 ha
Kabankalan City: 102.64 ha
Sagay City: 72.11 ha
Don Salvador Benedicto: 66.92 ha
Manapla: 63.16 ha
Calatrava: 52.75 ha
Hinigaran: 49.56 ha
La Carlota City: 45.70 ha
Ilog: 44.66 ha
San Carlos City: 38.80 ha
Victorias City: 33.94 ha
Silay City: 32.24 ha
E.B. Magalona: 31.97 ha
Toboso: 18.40 ha
Himamaylan: 16.99 ha
Escalante City: 16.29 ha
Isabela: 16.00 ha
Cauayan: 9.22 ha
Bacolod City: 5.15 ha
Talisay City: 2.68 ha
Binalbagan: 0.60 ha
NEGROS ORIENTAL
Bayawan City: 68.80 ha
Canlaon City: 26.60 ha
Guihulngan: 18.00 ha
Vallehermoso: 13.80 ha
Mabinay: 7.00 ha
ILOILO
Passi City: 23.00 ha
Estancia: 7.90 ha
San Enrique: 7.85 ha
Banate: 4.55 ha
Anilao: 2.50 ha
CAPIZ
President Roxas: 13.12 ha
Pilar: 8.70 ha
Pontevedra (Capiz): 0.20 ha *
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