Pests threaten Aklan abaca plantations

Aklan province could still be feeling the effects of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), with pests threatening its abaca plantations.

 

The Fiber Industry Development Authority estimates the pests may threaten up to 30 percent of plantations in Aklan, GMA Iloilo stringer Jun Aguirre reported.

 

FIDA abaca disease management program technician Melvin Zabala said most of the cases monitored so far are in Libacao town.

 

Zabala said it is possible the pests spread after Yolanda devastated the plantations. Yolanda, which left more than 6,000 dead, had devastated the Visayas and parts of Luzon last November.

 

Aklan has about 4,268 hectares of abaca plantations, the report said.

 

The report cited initial information indicating the pests that are affecting the abaca plantations include Abaca Mosaic Disease; Bract Mosaic Disease; and Bunchy Top.

 

For now, the FIDA has sprayed pesticide on the plantations in Libacao.  — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News