The United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) and chemical supplier, DC Cruz is set to hold a forum on Wednesday, July 22, for interested parties who wish to clarify the use of systemic pesticides by way of aerial spraying against Red Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation.
“There are so many comments and allegations about the use of systemic pesticides through aerial spraying and so we are bringing in the experts to clarify the safety nets of their products,” UNIFED President Manuel Lamata said in a press release Monday.
He added that contrary also to claims by some sectors that it is inutile to use aerial spraying given that the RSSI stays underneath the leaves, Lamata countered that “these are statements coming from those who refuse to attend information drive regarding this intervention and worse, are quick to lay blame on others without offering their own solutions.”
“We have to do something on a large scale as the interventions being introduced by some sectors are for long term and will not save thousands of hectares of standing crops at this point,” he added.
Lamata also said that just like the use of drone, the aerial spraying is doing a low pass method of spraying to ensure that the canes are drenched with systemic pesticides. The aerial company also said that they will send planes with “vortex nozzles” that “create a tornado like effect that fully drench our sugar canes.”
UNIFED said that they will exhaust all efforts to make the government and farmers understand that “we need to act on a large scale because the small farmers may not be able to survive this crisis without immediate intervention.
Thus, together with the Sugar Regulatory Administration, UNIFED will take it upon themselves with the help of progressive sugar planters to start spraying fields of small farmers, especially those whose fields are showing massive RSSI infestation because they cannot afford to buy pesticides.
It will be followed by the spraying of big farms, at least only for those who are willing to sign up and support this intervention, Lamata said.
“While we agree on the plans of the provincial government towards bio-control solutions, we need to see their immediate action and recommendation on standing crops because without a large scale intervention now, we are set to lose big time in the coming crop year,” Lamata added.*PR
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