Negros island: The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has committed to extending the quickest interventions to local government units (LGUs) affected by the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) in Negros Island, stressing the need for immediate response three months ahead of harvest. "As part of our commitment to the mayors who approached us, we will directly address their needs, only to a point where they want to be assisted," SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said in a statement on Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the SRA will soon start assisting the LGUs and farmers in Negros Oriental, who are more receptive to immediate solutions. Reported data showed at least 30 percent infestation in more than 200,000 hectares of sugar land across Negros Island. SRA cited studies indicating that RSSI may potentially reduce the sugar content of infested canes by up to 50 percent.
Reacting to the pronouncement of the Negros Occidental provincial government that it is "going green" in addressing the RSSI infestation, Azcona noted that the SRA has always looked at biological and natural control as the way to go in eradicating, if not minimizing, the RSSI infestation. He said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel has directed all laboratories under the Department of Agriculture to help in the production of fungi against the RSSI.
"In other words, we are not just going to go-green, we have started the process since last year of doing so. This is, however, for the long-term response," Azcona said. "Going natural control is not quick, and it is not cheap." He said based on his personal experience, using bio-pesticides costs four to five times more than using off-the-shelf solutions.
Azcona emphasized that control is not as quick, and farmers may not have the capacity to cope. He added that what the sugar industry needs now, with three months to go before harvest, is an immediate response. He mentioned that some farms badly-hit by RSSI last year that have invested in drones have minimized infestation in their land using the low-and-slow method of spraying insecticide.
Azcona further stated that the SRA has purchased drones and has been actively spraying farms upon request of farmers and will continue to do so to help those who want assistance. He pointed out that a minimum 30 percent infestation, and growing if not arrested, already translates to 67,000 hectares of sugarcane planted in Negros Occidental alone.
Azcona highlighted the experience of farmers hit by RSSI in the northern part of the province last year, who reported a loss of 40 to 50 percent both in tonnage and Lkg TC (50-kg bag raw sugar per ton of cane). Based on the computed infestation rate now, Negros Occidental province is set to lose 33,000 hectares of sugar production without immediate intervention. This translates to 150,000 metric tons of raw sugar, equivalent to about eight percent of national production.
On July 17, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, president of the Association of Chief Executives in Negros Occidental, stated he will present all options during a meeting with all the mayors. "It is important to know that systemic chemicals will be used and all we need to decide on is how this operation should be carried out because we need to act in unison to save our standing crops," the mayor said.
