By CESAR JOLITO III
The infestation of the red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) in sugarcane fields across the Visayas has widened to more than 2,000 hectares, with Negros Occidental as the most affected, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reported.
Negros Occidental bears the brunt of the RSSI infestation, accounting for over 97 percent of the total affected area, the latest SRA data as of Wednesday, June 25, showed.
Around 1,980.44 hectares of sugarcane owned by 1,072 farmers across 71 barangays in the province have been affected by the pest.
Cadiz City suffered most of the infestation, with 261.21 hectares, followed by Bago City (239.9 hectares), Victorias City (237.1 hectares), and Murcia town (229.8 hectares).
Despite the grim statistics, 228.16 hectares of infested land are reportedly recovering due to swift action by local farmers, the SRA said.
Recovery areas include portions of sugarcane farms in the cities of Bago, Silay and Victorias, as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Manapla.
Other provinces impacted by the RSSI include Negros Oriental, Iloilo and Capiz, spanning 82 barangays and impacting 1,097 farmers — albeit with much smaller infested areas.
Based on SRA’s initial report on May 22, the number of affected farmers in the Visayas has increased more than 14-fold, from 76 to 1,097, while the area of infestation ballooned from 87.04 to more than 2,000 hectares.
The number of impacted barangays also rose sharply, from 24 to 82 within just five weeks.
According to the SRA, if left undetected and unmanaged, the RSSI can spread rapidly from one field to another, causing severe crop damage and potential economic loss for farmers.
The pests could reduce sugar yields by up to 50 percent, based on studies from the University of the Philippines.
Earlier, the Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation, Inc. (Philsurin) said sugarcane growers must intensify their monitoring efforts and conduct weekly field inspections, focusing particularly on the lower portions of the sugarcane where early signs of infestation are likely to appear.
Philsurin said RSSI begins infestation on the lower leaves and slowly advances upward.
A telltale sign of its presence is the sticky honeydew it secretes, which encourages the growth of black sooty mold.
Infested plants often appear dirty, with yellowing, drying and wilting leaves, especially near the base.
Farmers may also observe visible insects with distinctive red stripes in both nymph and adult stages.
Planters are advised to physically remove and burn infested leaves to prevent further spread of RSSI.
Philsurin is currently working with DA and other government bodies to study the potential use of biological control agents as a sustainable and long-term solution to the pest problem.
Negros Island, which produces over 60 percent of the country’s sugar, is facing a rapidly escalating threat that has already affected hundreds of hectares of sugarcane fields.
RSSI was first detected in northern Negros Occidental at the end of March and was officially declared an infestation on May 22./CJ, WDJ