Bacolod city: The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is conducting further studies for the mass production of entomo-pathogenic fungi to counter the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation. This was among the actions presented by the SRA during the training-workshop on RSSI management and open data kit application at the Capitol Social Hall here on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona highlighted a significant breakthrough in the use of fungi to combat RSSI. A specific fungus discovered in Capiz has shown promising results in attacking adult RSSI. This naturally occurring fungus, rather than a chemical solution, has been produced in larger quantities at La Granja Station. The two beneficial fungi being studied, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana, are considered potential long-term solutions to the infestation.
Azcona emphasized the goal of multiplying the fungi to distribute them for free to farmers for spraying. Farmers' associations and local government units (LGUs) could be taught to replicate and multiply the fungus, which naturally occurs in sugarcane. The RSSI infestation poses a significant threat, potentially reducing the sugar content of affected canes by nearly 50 percent.
Currently, Negros Occidental has the highest affected area with 2,876.28 hectares out of 2,932.13 hectares of RSSI-infected sugarcane farms in Negros and Panay. The infestation affects around 1,574 farmers across 113 barangays in 21 LGUs in the province. In Negros Oriental, 3.5 hectares are infested in Mabinay, while Iloilo's Anilao and Barotac Nuevo report 29.15 hectares. In Capiz, Sigma, Panit-an, Pontevedra, and Dao have a combined infestation of 23.20 hectares.
Recovery efforts have seen improvement, with 237.66 hectares showing signs of recovery after farmers implemented recommendations to de-trash infested leaves and burn them away from sugarcane areas, followed by the immediate application of insecticides. Specifically, in Negros Occidental, Manapla has 110.91 hectares of recovering areas, while Victorias City, Bago City, Murcia, E.B. Magalona, and Silay City report varying extents of recovery.
Anilao, Sigma, and Panit-an have also reported recovering areas ranging from three to seven hectares. SRA agriculturist Mikko Libo-on mentioned the development of a software application to create a dashboard for reporting validated RSSI cases, with data based on visual incidence confirmed by SRA technical and field personnel.
