Sugarcane Pest Threatens Negros Farms, SRA Seeks DA Help

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Six areas in northern Negros Occidental are under close monitoring after sugarcane farms reported an infestation of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI), which can reduce sugar content by up to 50%.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) immediately created a task force headed by SRA board member David Andrew Sanson to control the infestation and requested quarantine measures from the Department of Agriculture (DA), according to a press statement released Wednesday.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona urged sugarcane farmers to be more vigilant when purchasing cane points, noting that the infestation may have originated from Luzon, where RSSI outbreaks have previously occurred and remain active in some areas.

Sanson appealed to farmers to stop transporting planting materials from Luzon and other infected areas, warning that the spread is believed to have come from infected cane points.

After receiving field reports from northern Negros, the SRA sought help from the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, which identified five insecticides with potential to control the pest.

Randolph Candano of the NCPC said protocol requires a second field trial in a different location to verify the effectiveness of the insecticides before an emergency-use permit can be requested from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), since these products are not yet registered for use on sugarcane.

Based on initial research, Buprofezin, Dinotefuran, Phenthoate, Pymetrozine and Thiamethoxam showed potential in controlling the infestation.

“This is not conclusive until we conduct a second field trial in a different location,” Candano said.

Azcona said they will propose holding the next trial in Negros but will also recommend quarantining canes from affected areas in the meantime.

He recalled that a similar approach helped the agriculture sector contain the spread of cocolisap in Calabarzon, thanks to DA-led restrictions on the movement of agricultural products.

“We cannot afford to have an infestation, as some farmers are already starting to plant their canes for the next crop year,” Azcona said.

“We made a good showing this year despite the challenges brought about by the long drought, and I hope we can maintain the momentum and even exceed our targets for next year if we all help one another in containing this infestation.”

Azcona noted that RSSI not only reduces yield but also increases production costs and threatens the stability of the sugar industry.

Candano said the pest can spread to nearby farms and thrives in hot conditions, especially when cane points are left exposed in the fields.

He recommended treating cane points with insecticides and informing the FPA about the ongoing trials.

While the SRA can request an emergency-use permit, Candano said it is typically the responsibility of insecticide manufacturers to conduct trials and apply for permits.

Sanson said the task force will establish an operations and monitoring center to document RSSI cases and facilitate coordination among SRA units and partner agencies involved in pest management.

“Supporting the task force is not optional, as it is essential to ensuring the future of the sugarcane industry,” Sanson said.