A task force is conducting massive monitoring to prevent the further spread of fall armyworms that have been destroying sugarcane and corn in Negros Occidental, OIC Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said Friday, July 12.
The Climate Resiliency Task Force, composed of technical people and agriculturists, is operating in collaboration with local government units and partner agencies, she said.
The task force has three clusters conducting the monitoring, she said.
They are visiting various areas in the province, even those with no reported cases of fall armyworm attacks, to raise awareness and preparedness, she said.
They also conduct orientations on how to eliminate the fall armyworms, she said.
The fall armyworms have been reported in 15 towns and cities in Negros Occidental, and an initial estimate of damage to corn has been placed at P10.8 million.
Genzola said mitigating measures are also being implemented in anticipation of the La Niña rains, such as the clearing of canals and drainages.*