• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Pest infestation created havoc on 125 hectares of sugarcane and corn plantations in three local government units of Negros Occidental, initially affecting 208 farmers, according to a report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).
In her report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said that 82 hectares of sugarcane fields were hit by armyworms in Himamaylan City while 45 hectares of cornfield were affected in Isabela, Binalbagan and also Himamaylan City.
Negros Occidental Fifth District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo said on Thursday (June 20) that they already started the spraying of chemicals on affected sugarcane and corn plantations in Sitio Iling-Iling, Barangay Cabadiangan, Himamaylan City, in tandem with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and private chemical companies.
Yulo said the armyworm infestation may have been caused by climatic change, triggered by the El Niño phenomenon and subsequent rains.
During the dry season, armyworm larvae stay close to the ground, feeding on grasses and other plants. Later on, they move up to feed on plant leaves and fruits.
The lawmaker, who is a former SRA board member representing the planters, said he is optimistic that the spraying of insecticides will prevent the spread of pest infestation to other local government units.
Armyworm and earworm infestation were reported specifically in barangays of Mambagaton, Carabalan and Cabadiangan in Himamaylan City, barangays of Cansalongon and Camang-Camang in Isabela and Barangay Santol in Binalbagan.
Genzola said that LGUs have already been alerted on the pest infestation.
According to the Department of Agriculture, armyworms are destructive pests that got their names from their army-like movement in agricultural fields.
They usually consume turf grass but would eat any vegetation in their path.
Armyworms can be controlled using neem oil-based sprays, or with biological controls like earwigs, spiders, and predatory wasps. | GB
