Bug attack in Negros sugar plantations alarming – SRA,Philippines
The Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation in Negros Island has rapidly expanded, affecting 424.82 hectares and threatening over 60% of the country’s sugar production. The Sugar Regulatory Administration is seeking emergency powers for quarantines and pesticide procurement. Coordination with local governments and agencies is underway, with drone pesticide application and P10 million aid from the DA being considered.
BACOLOD CITY — The spread of the destructive, red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) in Negros Island has quadrupled in eight days and is now considered by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) as “alarming.”
The SRA, in a press statement, said it is seeking “emergency powers” and the help of other government agencies to contain its spread in Negros Island, which accounts for over 60 percent of the country’s sugar produce.
The SRA is seeking emergency powers to quarantine movement of cane and planting materials, and for the immediate purchase of pesticides to contain the RSSI.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Negros Occidental provincial government is in “no position to provide the needed treatment” versus RSSI but has alerted agriculture offices of the local government units whose farms have been hit by pests.
“Pest attacks are part of the expenses that sugar farmers face every year,” Lacson said.
The presence of RSSI was first reported in the latter part of March in northern Negros Occidental and was declared an infestation on May 22 when it spread to over 87 hectares, the SRA press statement said.
After informing sugar farmers, the spread reached 191 hectares as recorded on May 26 and 255 hectares on May 28.
Data from the SRA showed that as of May 30, the infestation almost doubled to 424.82 hectares in a matter of two days, forcing the agency to seek the help of other government agencies, particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Negros Occidental provincial government and affected local government units, and the Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) for quarantine measures, the press statement said.
During an inter-government agency meeting on Monday, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona called for strict quarantine measures on the movement of canes and planting materials, as studies show that the pests, which were earlier monitored in Luzon, might have been accidentally brought to Negros.
SRA Deputy Administrator Ignacio Santillana also said they will need a policy for emergency use to fast-track procurement and distribution of pesticides given the strict regulations of the Commission on Audit regarding procurement.
“We currently want to utilize P1.5 million for pesticide purchase while we are waiting for the assistance from the Department of Agriculture but our hands are tied unless there is a policy in place for emergency purchase and considering the rate of spread, this is an emergency,” Santillana said.
SRA believes the infestation is wider than what was reported given the limitations they have with manpower to verify reports from the field, which is also why they need the help of local government agriculturists.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist also said that they will seek the guidance of Lacson on how they can help put a policy in place so that a coordinated response from all government agencies can be implemented as soon as possible.
OPA and SRA will also coordinate with the chief executives in the Victorias Milling District, which covers the cities of Victorias and Cadiz and the town of Manapla, which accounts for almost half of the infestation, covering 219 hectares.
Thirteen towns and cities in Negros Occidental reported the presence of RSSI.
Mabinay in Negros Oriental also reported some spread in Anilao in Panay.
Azcona said that they have asked for the assistance of the BPI to ensure that as the infestation is not contained, there should be no transport of planting materials between islands and affected areas.
“I am confident we can arrest this with the help and cooperation of everyone, but if we don’t, this is hitting the sugar industry at its heart because Negros is also the major source of sugar for the country. Negros also supplies high-yielding cane points for Mindanao, and all the more why we need to come up with regulations and policies in place because somebody has to take responsibility for what is happening now,” Azcona said.
With the absence of a concrete policy, BPI said their hands are tied as well, saying they tried to stop the transport of planting materials from Escalante, Negros Occidental, to Panay Island recently but could not hold back the shipment because there is no policy in place yet.
SRA’s research center said that based on their study and from literature, RSSI can cause significant damage to sugarcanes and high temperature has been identified as a key factor in its rapid population increase.
Meanwhile, Azcona said that they already sent a letter requesting P10 million in assistance from the DA and this was well-received by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, who has been apprised of the situation.
Azcona also tasked the agency to study the use of drones in spraying pesticides, as “it might be worth using drones for its wide range of application and speed to contain the infestation.”
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Source : The Manila Times
