Sugarcane Pest Infestation Spreads to 2,029 Hectares

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Sugar farms affected by the red striped soft-scale infestation have expanded to 2,029 hectares, up from 1,505 hectares, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said Thursday he has directed the agency’s research arm to study the effects of the pest on recovered canes once they mature.

The goal is to determine the extent of damage, with other countries reporting sugar content loss of up to 50 percent, Azcona said.

In its latest report, the SRA noted that 228.16 hectares of sugarcane have recovered from infestation.

This recovery came after farmers followed recommendations to de-trash infested leaves, burn them away from sugarcane areas, and immediately apply insecticides with varying modes of action, including treatment of field borders.

Recovered areas include 22.52 hectares in Bago City, 26.76 in Murcia, 38.72 in E.B. Magalona, 3 in Silay City, 22.25 in Victorias City, and 110.91 in Manapla—all in Negros Occidental—as well as 2.5 hectares in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, and 1.6 in Sigma, Capiz.

Meanwhile, infested farms span 18 localities in Negros Occidental, led by Cadiz City with 261 hectares, Victorias City with 237, and Murcia with 228.9.

Total infested areas include 1,980 hectares in Negros Occidental, 3.5 in Negros Oriental, 24.75 in Iloilo, and 19.2 in Capiz.

At least 1,097 farmers have been affected so far.

Azcona said the SRA created the RSSI Task Force to coordinate response efforts, involving the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, provincial governments, and LGUs.

He said SRA’s LGAREC Research and ESD-Visayas teams continue monitoring and validation, offering technical assistance and advisories.

Azcona also submitted recommendations to local governments in Negros Occidental to declare a state of urgency to expedite quarantine procedures and pesticide procurement.

The SRA sought DA assistance for additional pesticide support, and DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has approved PHP10 million in funding.

Azcona said under the “Quick Response to Pest Outbreak” project, they continue to exhaust existing pesticide supplies, distributed through the Mill District Development Councils.