The government is seeing progress in its efforts to contain the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation that has threatened sugarcane farms in Negros Occidental.
In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Friday, July 11, Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Pablo Azcona said of the 2,900 affected hectares, “almost 300” hectares are now considered recovered.
He attributed the progress in containing the infestation to early detection, prompt pesticide application, and continuous farmer education.
Azcona also said that beyond government efforts, there has been an outpouring of support from the private sector and other stakeholders.
“Ang dami na pong pumapasok na inquiries and offers for tulong from the private sector. Lahat po gusto nang mag-involve. Iyong mga sugar millers natin umumpisa. Mayroon din tayong tawag galing sa mga sugar traders mismo, sa mga importers, sa exporters, at saka po sa mga farmer associations kung ano po iyong puwede nilang itulong,” he said.
He said the SRA, together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and provincial and local government units, has been conducting intensive farm inspections and pesticide spraying to stop the pest from further spreading.
Azcona noted that most of the affected areas are found along roadside sugarcane fields, which are now under constant watch.
To prevent future infestations, he said, the SRA Board has issued Sugar Order 6, prohibiting any transfer of sugarcane, sugarcane planting materials, importation of new sugarcane varieties, and release of varieties without proper inspection and coordination with the SRA.
The SRA is also tracing past movements of planting materials between islands to plug gaps in biosecurity.
Azcona said research is underway to develop long-term, sustainable pest control methods, including using parasitoids and fungi, which are effective against RSSI.
“On the long-term control, the SRA is developing iyong parasitoids natin, be it insects or fungus or other organisms na i-spread po natin ito sa mga sugarcane farmers natin, lalo na po iyong mga land reform beneficiary farmers natin, para po iyong natural control, doon po talaga tayo papunta for long-term control po,” he said. (PNA)