• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The number of local government units affected by the fall armyworm (FAW) infestation in Negros Occidental has increased to 22, with affected areas now at 3,427 hectares as of Aug. 19.
The estimated amount of damage is still being consolidated by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).
Affected were the livelihood of 5,360 farmers in 120 barangays.
In a report submitted to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said that the LGUs of Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinobaan, Calatrava, Sagay City and Sipalay City reported 36 percent recovery, or 442.07 hectares of the total damaged area.
The municipality of Candoni reported a reduction of fall armyworms population build up, she added.
Brown planthopper also damaged almost 300 hectares of ricefields in 17 barangays of Valladolid and San Enrique towns, affecting 248 farmers, while rice blast and bacterial leaf streak damaged 34 hectares of rice fields in Kabankalan City, the OPA report showed.
Rodents hit 273.61 hectares of ricefields also in Valladolid town.
Genzola said that they already installed two supervised lights traps and conducted spraying in heavily infested areas, and also recommended light trapping activities to validated affected areas to farmers associations against brown planthopper and rice black bug. | GB
