By CESAR JOLITO III
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has intensified its campaign against the resurging infestation of the red striped soft-scale insects (RSSI), warning that the pests are beginning to increase anew due to prolonged dry and hot weather conditions linked to El Niño.
SRA said around 1,080 hectares of sugarcane plantations in Negros, Capiz and Iloilo have already been affected by the infestation as of Monday, May 11.
SRA Board Member and Planters’ Representative David Andrew Sanson said the infestation has so far caused only mild damage to sugarcane leaves, but he cautioned that extreme heat conditions expected to persist until December could create favorable conditions for the pest to spread rapidly.
While the current outbreak is still considered manageable, Sanson said early intervention is necessary to prevent a repeat of last year’s more severe damage.
To address the problem, the SRA is promoting the use of a locally developed beneficial fungus formulated by agency researchers.
The fungus, propagated using molasses, attacks and destroys RSSI pests and is now being introduced to farmers through training programs.
The SRA distributed beneficial fungus treatments, foliar fertilizers and high-powered sprayers to sugar farmers across the Visayas.
Sanson said farmers are also being taught how to reproduce the fungus treatment in their own communities to ensure faster and wider application in affected farms.
The agency has been conducting training sessions with Mill District Coordinating Councils (MDCCs) and sugar centrals in several sugar-producing areas, including Ormoc in Leyte, as well as the cities of Victorias and Sagay in Negros Occidental.
Sanson admitted that the SRA alone cannot meet the growing demand for the fungus treatment, prompting the agency to seek the assistance of sugar mills and MDCCs in expanding production and distribution efforts.
The SRA is likewise pushing alternative farming solutions amid rising fertilizer costs.
Alongside the fungus treatment, the agency distributed 229 power sprayers worth P64,000 each to 192 block farms across the Visayas on Monday.
The equipment, which includes protective gear for operators, is expected to improve the application of fertilizers and insecticides in sugarcane fields.
Sanson said the high-powered sprayers are especially effective when combined with insecticides and the SRA-developed fungus formulation, which directly attacks RSSI infestations./CJ, WDJ