Pest infestation hits main sugar-producing Negros Occidental
Metro Manila, Philippines - Agriculture officials are rushing to contain a reported pest infestation in sugarcane fields in some areas in northern Negros Occidental as some farmers have begun to plant their canes for the next crop season.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 21, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said it has formed a task force to control the infestation of red striped soft scale insects and seek quarantine measures from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Negros Occidental is the country’s biggest sugarcane producer.
“We requested farmers mag-caution sa pag-transport ng (planting) materials, lalong lalo na hindi alam kung ano ang source o pinanggalingan ng mga material na ‘yan. We need to quarantine,” Raphael Henri Mundo, SRA chief science research specialist, said in a news briefing.
[Translation: We requested farmers to take caution in transporting planting materials, especially if they don’t know the source of these materials. We need to quarantine.]
The SRA said red striped soft scale insects can reduce sugar content by almost 50 percent, warning that the infestation could “increase production cost and can threaten the industry’s stability in general” if not controlled.
The red striped soft scale insects were first observed in Pampanga in June 2022, then in Batangas in August 2023. This was the first discovery of the pest in Negros Occidental.
Mundo could not provide estimates of possible losses as sugar farmers have only started planting their crops.
“Pag hindi ito ma-control, it will really lead to significant impact sa ating production,” he said. “But we’re quite sure we can manage the situation.”
[Translation: If not controlled, it will really lead to a significant impact in our production.]
The SRA official said the agency is banking on the possible decline in the population of the insect during rainy days, as what they observed in Luzon.
No authorized insecticides yet
Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said the DA has coordinated with the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) for the protocols in securing an emergency-use permit for insecticides that could curb the infestation.
De Mesa said Buprofezin, Dinotefuran, Phenthoate, Pymetrozine, and Thiamethoxam were “proven initially to be effective” in controlling red striped soft scale insects, which was based from the study of the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
However, the five insecticides are not authorized yet to be used for sugarcane.
“The protocol calls for the company to conduct ‘yong dalawang trials sa dalawang location,” Mundo also told reporters. “Our initial study with NCPC ngayon, ‘yon yong ipe-present sa FPA para mabigyan ng emergency use permit.”
[Translation: The protocol calls for the company to conduct two trials in two locations. Our initial study with NCPC will be presented to the FPA for the emergency use permit application.]
Mundo said the SRA has an ongoing trial for the five possible insecticides in Pampanga, while the agency is proposing to conduct the second trial in Negros Occidental.
De Mesa said that the FPA assured the DA that “[B]asta kumpleto [As long as the application documents are complete] they can immediately review and release the EUP.”
The sugar crop year begins in September and ends in August of the following year.
On Monday, the SRA said it is expecting that local sugar production in crop year 2024-2025 will end at 1.837 million metric tons, up from the initial projection of 1.728 million metric tons.
Sugar production in crop year 2023-2024 was at 1.922 million metric tons.
“We made a good showing this year despite the challenges brought about by the long drought and I hope we can maintain the momentum and even exceed our targets for next year if we will all help one another in containing this infestation,” SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said in a statement.
