By JEN BAYLON

The severe infestation of armyworms has struck 15 local government units in Negros Occidental, affecting 1,429 farmers and leaving a trail of destruction on crops.

According to data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), a total of 923.5 hectares of sugarcane and corn fields in 75 barangays have been affected by armyworms.

Isabela town has been the hardest hit, with 245.45 hectares of damaged crops, followed by Himamaylan City with 207.10 hectares, OPA reported.

The infestation was also reported in the cities of Kabankalan, Escalante, Silay, Sagay, and Bago, as well as in the municipalities of Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, Ilog, La Castellana, Cauayan, Murcia, Candoni, and Hinoba-an.

Last week, experts from the National Crop Protection Center of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños in Laguna arrived in Negros Occidental to help farmers contain the armyworm infestation.

They conducted a study on fall armyworms and established protocols for rapid containment and eradication to protect the crops.

Negros Occidental 5th District Representative Emilio Yulo said the experts will be submitting their recommendations to the OPA on how to manage the pests and prevent future outbreaks.

Yulo said the experts suggested a two-way approach — spray insecticides, and biological control by the use of armyworms’ natural predators — in controlling the infestation.

However, he said the traditional spraying of insecticides will not be effective as armyworms’ eggs are embedded under the leaves.

Meanwhile, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government has received 50 liters of insecticide from the Western Visayas Regional Crop Protection Center, which will be enough for 100 hectares.

Lacson said that the spraying of insecticides will continue next week.

Armyworms typically emerge after a long dry season or drought, making the infestation particularly concerning given the effects of the recent El Niño phenomenon./JB, WDJ