Tests on content of canes affected by RSSI infestation ongoing

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is conducting tests on the sugar content of harvestable sugarcanes in Negros Occidental to determine loss due to the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation.

Data from the SRA on Wednesday showed tests on harvested canes, aged at least nine to 10 months, started last week in Cadiz City and Manapla in northern Negros.

“Production data will be collected. This directive will guide the SRA in making projection of production figures for the coming crop year,” a statement from the office of SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said.

RSSI could reduce the sugar content of infested canes by almost 50 percent.

According to data from SRA Visayas as of Aug. 19, the infestation has affected 3,656.69 hectares of sugarcane areas since the start of monitoring on May 22.
Negros Occidental recorded 3,509.83 hectares of infested sugarcane fields in 24 local government units, affecting 1,913 farmers in 162 barangays.

Negros Oriental reported infestation in 24.8 hectares of farmlands; Iloilo 82.19 hectares; Capiz, 27.7 hectares; and Leyte, 12.17 hectares.

A total of 291.98 hectares of affected areas have recovered, mostly in Negros Occidental, the highest of which is in Manapla, spanning 136.64 hectares; followed by Bago City, 42.51 hectares; EB Magalona, 38.62 hectares; Murcia, 26.76 hectares; and Victorias City, 22.25 hectares.

The rest of the recovering areas were reported in Mabinay, Negros Oriental; Anilao, Iloilo; and Sigma and Panit-an, Capiz, all at 10 hectares and below.

In the report, the SRA-Visayas said procurement of additional pesticide assistance worth PHP10 million is underway through the Department of Agriculture – Negros Island Region.

“With the existing ‘quick response to pest outbreak project,’ we continue to utilize and exhaust our current available pesticide supplies, which is carried through our mill district development councils,” it added.

Researchers at the SRA-La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental are also conducting further field trials for the mass production of entomo-pathogenic fungi against RSSI, the report said.* (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)