By CESAR JOLITO III

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is awaiting final approval from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) before rolling out a P15-million pesticide program to combat the fast-spreading red striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) infestation in sugarcane farms.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said one of the pesticides to be procured is not traditionally used for sugarcane, requiring a special FPA permit.

The agency has asked Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. to help expedite the approval process to prevent further crop damage.

RSSI had already infested 3,290.36 hectares of sugarcane in Negros Occidental, affecting 1,840 farmers in 151 barangays, SRA data as of August 11 showed.

La Carlota City is the most affected by the pest, with 370.6 hectares of sugarcane impacted, data showed.

Murcia town also recorded RSSI infestations in 348.06 hectares, while 324.04 hectares in Cadiz City have been affected by the pest.

The figure could be higher, Azcona warned, as field monitoring continues.

“Farmers must remain vigilant because early detection is key to stopping the pest’s spread,” Azcona stressed, adding that the full impact on sugar production cannot yet be determined.

In response to the infestation, the SRA is working closely with the Department of Agriculture and other agencies to contain the infestation.

Quarantine protocols are being implemented to prevent the movement of infected planting materials, SRA said.

The agency is also conducting research on potential insecticides and biological control methods, such as fungi (Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana) and green lacewing bugs.

The SRA is also studying the effects of RSSI on recovered canes to determine the extent of damage./CJ, WDJ