By JEN BAYLON

Experts from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UP-LB) College of Agriculture, specifically from the National Crop Protection Center, will arrive in Negros Occidental to help contain the infestation of fall armyworms in several local government units in the province.

According to 5th District Congressman Dino Yulo, he requested the expertise of the UP-LB team from Laguna to study fall armyworms and identify effective insecticides to be used to control the infestation.

The experts are expected to arrive this week.

They are aiming to establish protocols for rapid containment and eradication of fall armyworms to protect the crops.

The infestation of fall armyworms was first monitored in Himamaylan City last month, and has since spread to other localities in the 5th district and surrounding areas.

The Official of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported that fall armyworms have infested 558 hectares of corn and sugarcane fields in the cities of Himamaylan and Kabankalan, as well as the municipalities of Isabela, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Ilog, Cauayan, and Murcia.

Some 663 farmers from 40 villages are affected, the OPA said.

Meanwhile, Acting Provincial Administrator Alberto Nellas, Jr. said the provincial government is conducting a study to identify insecticides that can be used to effectively control the infestation, and prevent further damage to crops.

Fall armyworms have been causing significant damage to crops, threatening the livelihood of farmers./JB, WDJ