• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation continues to wreak havoc on sugarcane fields in the Visayas, especially in Negros Occidental, with 4,324 hectares affected as of Sept. 2.
Negros Occidental registered 4,113 hectares of affected areas; Iloilo – 83.69 hectares; Leyte – 73.18 hectares; Capiz – 29.50 hectares; and Negros Oriental – 24.80 hectares, data of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) showed.
These were planted by 1,415 farmers in 102 barangays in Negros, Iloilo, Capiz and Leyte.
As of Aug. 19, the SRA reported that 291.98 hectares of affected sugarcane fields have recovered from the infestation.
The SRA has ordered a prohibition on transporting sugarcane plants and planting materials from areas under quarantine due to pests, such as the RSSI, unless a specific permit is obtained.
Sugar Order No. 6 and the implementing Memorandum Circular No. 9 require these permits for both commercial and research purposes, and transport is only allowed after verified preventive measures like washing and chemical spraying have been applied.
“No sugarcane plants or planting materials shall be transported outside of the quarantined barangays, municipalities or provinces whether for commercial or research purposes, except when supported by a permit to transport duly issued by the SRA,” the directive said.
Transport will only be allowed once appropriate preventive measures, such as washing and spraying of proper chemicals, have been instituted, it added.
The goal of these strict biosecurity measures is to prevent the spread of destructive diseases and pests that threaten the sugar industry.
The SRA is also closely coordinating with the Bureau of Plant Industry quarantine services unit in enforcing the requirement.
“The RSSI attacks sugarcane leaves and reduces sugar content by about 50 percent, and if not contained, it may wipe out the sugar industry not just in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Panay but eventually in the rest of the country,” SRA said. | GB
