By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) recently declared the infestation of rice black bugs in southern Negros under control.

OPA head, Atty. Japhet Masculino, credited the development to their light trapping operations.

He also noted, farmers started spraying metarhizium, a type of pesticide, on their crops.

Rice farmers in Candoni, meanwhile, have begun harvesting crops, cutting off further infestation.

Masculino stated there are no other local government units currently reporting infestations in their areas.

He also urged farmers to report to their local agricultural office if they see any black bugs in their plantation.

It was previously reported, around 14 hectares of rice fields had been affected by the infestation, resulting in an estimated P250,000 worth of damages./DGB, WDJ