Pest infestation hits over 50,000ha of border-province rice
In a recent video from Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, officials reported that rice crops across five border provinces along the Vietnam-Cambodia border have been affected by three types of insects: rice whiteflies, fall armyworms, and rice leaf folders. The affected provinces include Takeo, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Kandal, and Tbong Khmum. Despite the infestations, authorities assured that the situation is under control, advising farmers against excessive sowing of rice seeds and the overuse of nitrogen-based fertilizers. The damage, primarily in Prey Veng province, has affected about 10,000 hectares, representing around four percent of the total rice cultivation area in the region.
A senior agriculture official announced that three kinds of insects have affected over 50,000 hectares of rice in five border provinces along the Vietnam-Cambodia border, in a video released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on July 14.
The official said, however, the situation is under control and farmers are advised not to sow excessive amounts of rice seed or use too much nitrogen-based fertiliser.
Insects such as rice whiteflies (Aleurocybotus indicus), fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) and rice leaf folders (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) are present in Takeo, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Kandal and Tbong Khmum provinces.
According to Ngin Chhay, director-general of the general agriculture department, said the damage is still minimal and mostly affecting Prey Veng, with the least impact in Kandal province.
“Whiteflies broke out over three weeks … but the damage is still small. The most significant impact is in Prey Veng,” he said.
Rice is grown on about 240,000 hectares in the province, with over 40,000 hectares affected. The overall damage is minimal, accounting for about four per cent of the total rice cultivation area, he added.
“The damage is estimated at about 10,000 hectares. Not all rice is affected; some rice paddies are completely destroyed, some are about 50 per cent damaged and some are about 70 per cent damaged. The outbreak of whiteflies so far is not serious, and the situation is manageable,” Chhay claimed.
The flies destroy rice at various stages of growth. If they attack the rice during the early stages of growth or when the rice begins to bloom and form pods, it can cause significant harm. At this stage, flies destroy the Tong Chhey leaf, the top leaf below the pod, which then dries and breaks, greatly reducing yields, he explained.
He added that if they attack during the tillering stage, damage may not occur because the rice can regenerate after timely intervention by farmers by spraying pesticides to kill the pests.
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