Task force formed to fight sugarcane pest infestation in Negros Occidental

A task force, led by Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board Member David Andrew Sanson, has been established to combat a red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation affecting sugarcane farms across Northern Negros Occidental.

The RSSI has infested nearly 186.03 hectares of sugarcane fields in 12 towns and cities across Negros Occidental, affecting 115 farmers.

Bago City is the hardest-hit area with 59.84 hectares affected, followed by Murcia with 43.62 hectares, and Victorias City with 27.05 hectares.

Although the infestation has the potential to reduce sugar production by nearly 50 percent, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona described the impact as 'extremely mild' on 96.21 ha and 'severe' on 12 ha.

Azcona stated that the infestation spread due to sugarcane workers traveling for the harvest season, making containment difficult, but containment is expected to become easier once the harvest season concludes by the end of May.

The SRA is working with the Department of Agriculture and has been trialing pesticides, with the National Crop Protection Center identifying five potential insecticides.

However, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has yet to receive applications for emergency-use permits for these insecticides from the SRA.

The infestation is not expected to affect the sugar production target for crop year 2024-2025, which has already hit 1.9 million metric tons (MMT).