• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has started deploying its mobile disinfection unit to spray pesticides on sugarcane farms in Negros Occidental affected by the infestation of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI).
Accompanied by Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) head Pablo Luis Azcona, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. visited a sugarcane plantation in Bacolod City on Thursday (June 5) to observe how the disinfection unit can be used to expedite pesticide application.
According to SRA, RSSI has already affected 546.10 hectares of sugarcane farms across 16 cities and municipalities in Negros and Panay, affecting 294 farmers.
Laurel said he already approved the P10 million being requested by the SRA to address the RSSI infestation, with Bago City being the hardest hit, having 124.76 hectares affected.
The DA and the Bureau of Plant Industry are validating the affected farms in preparation for the pesticide spraying on the infested crops.
In his visit to Negros Occidental on Thursday, Laurel assured the SRA and the sugarcane farmers of support from the national government.
The RSSI damages sugarcane by sucking leaf sap, causing the foliage to die, and its excrement also encourages fungal growth that can kill the plant.
Manuel Lamata, president of United Sugar Producers Federation, earlier urged the government to act swiftly on the situation to prevent huge losses in the sugar industry.
“We are alarmed, this should be addressed right away by the DA. They have to spray insecticides on the infected areas and stop the infestation immediately. Very bad for the industry, if this is not addressed right away,” he added. | GB
