THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has urged local government units to declare a state of calamity as a pest infestation has rapidly spread to over 1,500 hectares of sugarcane farms across four provinces.
From just 87.04 hectares last May 22, the red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) infestation has spread to 1,505.82 hectares as of June 18, the SRA said. Affected barangay rose to 79 from 24 while affected farmers increased to 744 from 76.
"While this is still a fraction of [the country's] sugar cane fields, the rapid spread is worrisome, and I believe that the real data can even be bigger as there are farms that have started their own remedy without reporting the matter to SRA," Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said.
Negros Occidental remained the most widely hit province with 1,490.32 hectares, 729 farmers and 69 barangay affected. Particularly hit were the cities of Victorias (237.10 hectares) and Cadiz (201.99 hectares) and the town of Manapla (196.91 hectares).
Following were the provinces of Capiz (7.10 hectares, eight farmers and five barangay), Iloilo (5.90 hectares, five farmers and four barangay) and Negros Oriental (2.50 hectares, two farmers and one barangay).
A total of 1,194.72 hectares and 585 farmers were said to be under a mild (1 to 20 percent) degree of infestation, 152.72 hectares and 107 farmers were classed as moderately severe (21 to 50 percent).
A severe (51 to 70 percent) degree of infestation was observed in 38.38 hectares, affecting 23 farmers while 11.51 hectares and 10 farmers were found to have highly severe (171 to 100 percent) infestation.
"Area and farmers affected according to RSSI degree of infestation [are] not the same [as] area and farmers affected based on location, as there are fields/areas of one farmer which experienced different [degrees] of infestation/s," the SRA said.
Some areas were categorized as having no infestation or in the early detection phase.
Other areas are in a state of recovery, particularly 97.78 hectares involving 16 farmers. The SRA attributed this to farmers having implemented measures such as de-trashing and burning infested leaves, and applying insecticides.
Azcona called on sugar farmers and groups to report outbreaks to help provide the SRA with a better picture of the extent of the RSSI infestation.
While the Department of Agriculture has approved a P10-million budget for pesticide procurement, he added that without proper data, they would not be able to determine the best way to approach the situation.
"We are urging the local government units, especially in highly infested areas, to declare a state of calamity as this will help us in expediting [the] procurement of pesticides that can be immediately distributed to help abate this infestation," Azcona said.
If not contained, RSSI can reduce the sugar content of sugarcane by up to 50 percent.
