More corn farms infected with fall armyworm

MANILA, Philippines — The local corn industry continues to suffer from the infestation of the fall armyworm as it marches its way to more provinces in the country.

The Department of Agriculture has reported that 8,000 hectares of corn farms are now infested with fall armyworm since the first case was reported in June last year.

“We are deploying crop experts and procuring needed crop protection chemicals and biocontrol agents to effectively manage, control and contain fall armyworm that has to date infested 8,000 hectares planted to corn nationwide,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

He also said that the DA has so far provided P150 million worth of assistance to help corn farmers affected by the disease.

The first case of fall armyworm was recorded in Piat in Cagayan Valley, but has now spread as far as Mindanao.

Fall armyworms feed on plant parts of corn, rice, and other crops, damaging them and causing a significant loss in yield.

Of the 8,000-hectare affected area, more than half was in Cagayan Valley with 4,214 hectares, followed by SOCCSKSARGEN with 1,730, Northern Mindanao with 882, and Zamboanga Peninsula with 665.

To date, the infestation was monitored in 208 municipalities and 47 provinces.

The pest is eradicated using a combination of crop protection chemicals, bio-control agents, and timely integrated pest management practices.

Dar has already created a DA-led interagency national fall armyworm task force to contain the disease.

The members include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports Authority, local government units, state universities and colleges, farmers’ groups, private institutions, and non-government organizations.

The task force will lead the implementation of strategies and measures to effectively control the infestation through strict quarantine inspection, disinfestation of ports, cultural management practices, distribution and use of pesticides and biological control agents, and strategic information dissemination.