Fall armyworms creating havoc in Pangasinan, Batangas farms

Fall armyworms are creating havoc in mango plantations in Pangasinan, as well as in corn fields in Batangas.Based on monitoring by the United Pangasinan Mango Farmers, the infestation has affected several mango orchards in these areas: <ul> <li>Calasiao, </li> <li>Mangaldan, </li> <li>San Fabian, </li> <li>Agno, </li> <li>San Carlos City; and,</li> <li>Alaminos City</li> </ul> "Yung armyworm, kapag walang maintenance sa mangga sa pag-spray ng kemikal, magkakaroon ng resulta na ganyan,” Perfecto Liquiran, a member of the Board of Directors of the United Pangasinan Mango Farmers, said. In Barangay Songkoy in Calasiao, despite efforts to protect the mango fruits by covering them with paper, the fruits still fell victim to the pests. "Yung uod na ‘yun, titirahin ang bunga [at] bubutasin, kaya doon nasisira ang mga mangga," Marlito Delos Santos, a mango farm owner, said. Farmers have resorted to pesticide to prevent the infestation from spreading further. The Provincial Agriculture Office said that fall armyworms tend to spread rapidly, especially during hot weather. The extent of the damage caused by the pest to mango orchards is still being assessed. In addition to addressing the pest issue, authorities continue to monitor the effects of the El Niño phenomenon in the province. "Continuous ang monitoring namin, open ang mga coordination lines with our fishery technologist at municipal agriculturist," Dalisa Moya, the Pangasinan Provincial Agriculturist, said. Meanwhile, in Batangas, the Lipa City Agriculture Office is preparing for farmers after around 20 hectares of cornfields were affected by the scorching heat and fall armyworm infestation. In Barangay Pusil, Lipa City, the crops at the Mayet Amazona's farm are withering, their kernels have dried up and the leaves are riddled with holes from the attack of fall armyworms. "Lugi po kami ng ilang tanim kaya po kami eh magta-try ng kamatis at mais. Hahatiin na laang po namin are sa dalawa pong iyon," Amazona said. "Talagang napakahirap, hanggang sa nagkang-uutang na nga para makatanim. Kaya ang hiling ko po nga sa kanila [sa LGU] ay bigyan kami ng binhi at abono kung ano ang pwede nilang ibigay sa amin," Amazona added. The barangays affected include Lumbang, Dagatan, Pinagkawitan, Pusil, and Marawoy. "Kaya lang ang mga farmer's natin, hindi talaga mapigilan, meron pang nagtanim noong December, January, although ang Lipa, blessed pa rin, hindi nagka-crack ‘yung lupa natin, dry lang siya kasi may panaka-nakang pag-uulan pa tayo," Engr. Lorelie Villa del Rey, the Lipa City Agriculturist, said. "Sa stage na ito, ‘yung nagtanim ng December sa rainfed area, umaasa sila sa tubig ulan [dahil] walang tamang irigasyon, kalimitan corn ang affected. May nagtanim noong December [to] January, may ilan tayong farmers na nag report na affected tapos sa kasamaang palad, dumating pa ‘yung peste," Villa del Rey added. Villa del Rey advised farmers to report any sign of pest infestation immediately for fast intervention.  "Kapag meron ka nang napansin na armyworm. Hindi naman ‘yun isang bagsak eh. Dapat napapa-report agad para nakakapag apply tayo agad ng pesticide," she said. "Mayroon naman po tayo available dito pang spray kung nagsabi sila sa atin. Ang problema lang siguro ay ‘yung tamang pagrereport nila sa atin para nabigayan natin sila ng tamang tulong," she added. Assistance is ready for affected farmers in the five barangays, and the Lipa City LGU has coordinated with the Department of Agriculture for the provision of solar-powered irrigation systems. (with reports from Russel Simorio, GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon, and Denise Abante, GMA Regional Balitang Southern Tagalog)