• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Sugarcane farmers in Talisay City, Negros Occidental will receive free spraying services as the city government steps up efforts to contain the spread of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation affecting local plantations.
Former city mayor Neil Lizares said the city government, in coordination with First Farmers Holdings Corp. (FFHC), has acquired a drone that will be used to spray sugarcane plantations across the city.
Under the directive of Mayor Rowena Lopez-Lizares, the city government will shoulder the cost of the spraying operations, allowing all sugarcane plantations in Talisay City to avail of the service at no cost to farmers.
He added that the treatment will use biological fungus rather than harmful chemicals, making the measure safe for the environment and the community.
The drone has a capacity of up to 100 liters, allowing operators to cover sugarcane fields more quickly and efficiently. Its operators have also undergone training in preparation for the spraying operations.
Lizares said the City Agriculture Office will first conduct an inventory and mapping of affected areas to guide the deployment of the drone and ensure that plantations affected by RSSI are properly covered.
Based on Sugar Regulatory Administration data, about 1,195 hectares out of the 6,303 hectares planted with sugarcane in Talisay City had been affected by RSSI as of July 24, impacting around 995 farmers. | GPB
