The Provincial Biosecurity Task Force for Agriculture has conducted perimeter road-spraying operations across 694.60 hectares of sugarcane fields in eight local government units in Negros Occidental as part of its biocontrol intervention against the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, August 18.
The road-spraying strategy focuses on applying Entomopathogenic fungi along field perimeters to establish protective treatment zones. These boundaries serve as crucial entry and exit points for RSSI, meaning edge treatments actively prevent the pest population from expanding into or escaping treated areas, Engr. Colen M. Ocalinas, task force action officer, said.
There are some good results where RSSI infestation has been lowered, Lacson said.
“We still have a long way to go, but we will continue with the treatment that we are pursuing right now,” he added.
Based on the task force monitoring data the pest has affected approximately 5,237.90 hectares, with 3,318.50 hectares under low infestation and 1,919.40 hectares under moderate infestation, in farms of small planters and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.
A total of 19 spraying operations covering 42,818.74 lineal meters were conducted across the targeted municipalities.
The municipality of Ilog accounted for the largest treatment area with 243 hectares covered during five operations, followed by Hinigaran with 170.50 hectares over four operations, and Himamaylan with 93.25 hectares. Other covered areas include Manapla at 79.55 hectares, Murcia at 43.60 hectares, Silay City at 31.00 hectares, Bago City at 20.00 hectares, and La Carlota City at 13.70 hectares, the task force reported.
To support the provincial spraying efforts, the task force consumed 126 liters of PSR Met premix for road spraying while simultaneously rolling out a farmer-to-farmer distribution network. While provincial road spraying systematically treats accessible border areas, direct farmer participation ensures biocontrol agents reach interior and difficult-to-access sections of the fields, minimizing untreated reservoirs that could lead to re-infestation, the report added.
Initial post-application monitoring in sprayed areas, such as Binubuhan in Bago City, shows visible fungal growth and improved crop conditions, confirming a positive response to the biological control program, the report said.*
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