• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reported that 291.98 hectares of sugarcane fields hit by the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation have recovered as of Aug. 11.
Manapla logged the highest recovery from pest infestation, with 136.64 hectares.
These areas are already recovering as farmers intentionally followed the recommendation to de-trash infested leaves, and burn them away from the sugarcane areas, and immediately applied insecticides with different mode of actions, according to SRA.
The RSSI infestation hit 3,394. 92 hectares of sugarcane farms in 36 local government units in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Iloilo, Capiz and Leyte provinces, affecting 1,923 farmers.
It may also cause a potential reduction of sugar content by at least 50 percent.
In response to the infestation, the SRA is working closely with the Department of Agriculture and other agencies to contain its spread.
SRA is also conducting a research on potential insecticides and biological control methods such as fungi and green lacewing bugs to combat the spread of RSSI.
The RSSI infestation affected 3,227 hectares of sugarcane fields in Negros Occidental while in Iloilo – 59.69 hectares, Capiz – 25.1 hectares, Leyte – 12.17 hectares; and Negros Oriental – 7.6 hectares, SRA records showed. | GB
