Sugarcane pest infestation affects 1,505 hectares

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The infestation of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) in sugarcane farms in Negros and Panay has affected 1,505 hectares as of June 18, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration.

The SRA said that infestations have been reported in 23 local government units, including 17 in Negros Occidental, and displaced 744 farmers in less than a month.

Of the pest-affected sugarcane farms, a majority or 1,490 hectares are in Negros Occidental.

With the help of the Department of Agriculture (DA), 97.78 hectares of sugarcane fields are recovering from the calamity.

A study conducted by the University of the Philippines-Los Baños showed the RSSI can reduce the sugar content of sugarcane by almost 50 percent.

Although the number of infested farms accounts for only a small fraction of the entire sugarcane fields on both islands, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona admitted that the rapid spread of the insects is alarming.

“I believe the real data can be higher as there are farms that have started (applying) their own remedy without reporting the matter to the SRA,” Azcona said.

The number of areas that are recovering from the infestation is higher than the initial 17.61 hectares reported in the northern part of Negros the other week.

These areas are E.B. Magalona with 38.62 hectares,  Bago City with 22.52 and Victorias with 21.29 hectares.

Manapla and Silay City recorded 8.25 and three hectares of sugarcane fields, respectively, that are recovering from the infestation.