ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Rats have infested rice fields in 18 towns in Iloilo, the provincial agriculturist’s office (PAO) reported yesterday.
The 18 towns are Leon, Alimodian, Sta. Barbara, Leganes, Zarraga, New Lucena, Cabatuan, Mina, Badiangan, Lambunao, San Enrique, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, Concepcion, and Estancia.
As of last Thursday, PAO data show that at least 3,416.8 hectares of rice fields in the province has been affected by the rat infestation.
The damaged palay crops are on the seedling to reproductive stage.
Of the 18 towns, the worse-affected are Mina, Sta. Barbara, New Lucena, and Anilao.
To contain the infestation, PAO has distributed 645 bottles of zinc phosphide to the affected municipalities.
Meanwhile, alarmed by the rat infestation, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. called Department of Agriculture (DA) officials to a meeting last Thursday.
Defensor sought the advice of DA regional director Larry Nacionales and his technical personnel on how to address the problem.
To prevent the infestation from spreading to other farms, Defensor encouraged farmers and the entire community to catch the rats.
DA officials also encouraged farmers to practice synchronized planting in order not to attract rats.