The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has intensified its collaboration with Hawaiian-Philippine Company (HPCo) to combat the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI), a destructive pest threatening sugarcane production in Negros Occidental, through an organic and eco-friendly pest management solution.
During a site visit on Sept. 6, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona expressed full support for HPCo’s initiative, which focuses on a biological control approach aimed at suppressing RSSI populations while safeguarding beneficial insects essential to the ecological balance of sugarcane farms.
“Through this partnership, we’re not just solving today’s pest problem – we’re laying the groundwork for sustainable farming practices that will benefit generations of sugarcane farmers in Negros and beyond,” Azcona said.
Since June this year, HPCo’s technical team has been refining an organic treatment protocol customized for varying levels of RSSI infestation in alignment with SRA’s sustainability programs.
The project accelerated significantly following the Aug. 10 to 16 visit of Israeli agricultural experts Yael Skutelsky and Nina Lehmann, who shared advanced biological pest control techniques, enabling the HPCo to refine its treatment procedures and establish a systematic protocol involving assessment, spraying, and monitoring.
“Our protocol focuses on disrupting pest growth and suppressing reproduction, without harming beneficial insects,” said Rodeo Suating, HPCo co-gen head and regulatory compliance officer. “The aim is to lower the RSSI population to a threshold where natural predators can take over.”
Initial trials were conducted in HPCo-managed cane fields before being extended to neighboring plantations.
Unlike conventional pesticides, which also eliminate beneficial insects, the HPCo protocol offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative.
Affected farms in Silay City and E.B. Magalona will receive the first round of the organic solution free of charge.
HPCo Chairman Paul Andrew Curran affirmed the company’s commitment to roll out the program across its mill district in partnership with local government units and planters’ associations. ||
