Negros Occidental provincial agriculturist, Atty. Japhet Masculino, assured local farmers that the ongoing fall armyworm infestation is not alarming. Based on the latest data, around three hectares of corn crops in Escalante City have been affected by the infestation.
A meeting conducted by the provincial task force, along with a surveillance team from the Department of Agriculture-Region VI, found six localities in the province have been affected. However, the provincial official affirmed the infestation will soon be controlled as long as they continue spraying insecticide in the affected areas.
Last week, five areas were said to be affected by the infestation. Earlier data showed La Carlota City, La Castellana, Pontevedra, Himamaylan City, and San Carlos City had been affected.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson issued an executive order calling for the creation of a coordinating task force on fall armyworm.
According to the order, there is a “critical need” to ensure preparedness and strengthen pest surveillance and management activities in the province.
The pest attacks rice, corn, soybeans, sugarcane, and some vegetables.
According to a memorandum from the Bureau of Plant Industry from last May, the destructive pest has a high reproductive rate and is difficult to control as they have a natural tolerance for some insecticides./DGB, WDJ