• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), in close coordination with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), is set to start spraying pesticides in sugarcane farms affected by red striped-soft scale insects (RSSI) in Negros Occidental.
DA-Negros Island Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo said on Tuesday (June 3) the BPI personnel are now in northern Negros for site validation of affected sugarcane farms.
He added that they are coordinating with the SRA on what areas to be prioritized in the spraying of pesticides.
Barrogo said the BPI is preparing the issuance of an order restricting the movement of cane tops.
The SRA sought emergency powers and the help of other government agencies to contain the RSSI spread in Negros Island, which accounts for over 60 percent of the country’s sugar produce.
Barrogo said that SRA wants to have an emergency procurement of pesticides.
The RSSI infestation has affected sugar farms in the cities of Cadiz, Victorias, Silay, Sagay, Bacolod, Bago and La Carlota as well as the towns of La Castellana, Murcia, E.B. Magalona, Toboso, Calatrava and Manapla in Negros Occidental, Mabinay in Negros Oriental, Anilao in Iloilo, and Sigma in Capiz.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona earlier asked the DA and the BPI to disallow the entry of planting materials whether for commercial or research purposes without a certification from the SRA and or the DA.
SRA also recommended to farmers to refrain from purchasing cane points from identified areas with infestation and to soak their planting materials in pesticide before planting these.
While they are trying to avoid the use of chemicals in spraying, Barrogo said “this is just an emergency situation and they have no choice but to utilize it”.
“Once we can manage the population of RSSI, we will resort to sustainable way of managing the infestation,” he added. | GPB
