DA releases P10M for pest containment efforts in Negros sugar farms

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday has released P10 million for pesticide procurement in support of pest containment efforts amid the red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) infestation threatening sugar production on Negros Island.

“We have ongoing pesticide spraying operations. With the support of the SRA (Sugar Regulatory Administration) and our regional office here, I’m confident we can quickly contain the infestation,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

The Agriculture chief said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the DA to act swiftly to contain the infestation and prevent it from spreading across the island — the country’s top sugar-producing region.

Tiu Laurel ordered the Bureau of Plant Industry to trace the origin of planting materials suspected of carrying the pest from Luzon. 

“This situation underscores the importance of following quarantine protocols to prevent similar outbreaks,” the DA chief said.

Tiu Laurel and SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona inspected sugarcane fields in Bacolod City on Thursday as part of intensified efforts to combat RSSI.

Azcona said SRA researchers have identified a parasite that can naturally control the RSSI population. 

“But that solution will take time. For now, we must act immediately, so we are using chemical pesticides,” said the SRA chief.

Moving forward, Tiu Laurel said the DA is eyeing to boost sugar production in the country through expanded irrigation, soil improvement using agricultural lime, and finding sources of higher-yielding planting materials.

“Increasing sugar production will allow us to significantly reduce, if not eliminate, the need for sugar imports,” the Agriculture chief said.

According to SRA data, the Visayas region accounts for 71% of national sugar output, with Negros Island alone contributing 63% of that total.

Sugar plantations in Panay, Cebu, and Leyte make up the remainder. — BAP, GMA Integrated News