Bugs, pests cause damage to rice in Negros

BACOLOD CITY – The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist reported total rice crop damage of R1.7 million due to plant diseases and pest infestations in one city and three towns in Negros Occidental, covering 85.08 hectares.

Sipalay City and La Castellana, Calatrava and Hinigaran rice farms were reportedly damaged by rice black bugs (RBB), rice grain bugs (RGB), rats, rice blasts, stemborers and bacterial leaf blight from August to September this year.

Total damage was valued at R1,742,479.20, with the most damage absorbed in Sipalay City with more than R1.1 million covering 23.48 has. due to infestation of grain bugs in Barangay Gil Montilla.

Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said grain bugs wee attacking rice in their milking stage, making the rice grains no longer edible and adulterated.

Next to Sipalay is La Castellana town which has recorded a total damage of R435,456 covering 10.08 has. due to RBB.

Around 31.9 has. of rice were also affected in the municipality of Hinigiran as it was affected by various plant diseases like rice blast, stemborer and bacterial leaf blight, as well as rat infestations.

Total damage in the town is valued at R187,638.40. The record also showed that another 12.60 has. of rice area in Hinigiran were also damaged by flashflood last month, with total damage at R76,608.

Meanwhile, Calatrava has minimal damage due to RBB and rats infestation with only four has. of rice areas affected at R4,800 worth of damages.

Masculino also reminded the farmers to be vigilant over all these possible diseases and infestations that could happen in their farmlands and report immediately to their city and municipal agriculturist if there are sightings of these.

“The occurrence of different pests and diseases is getting worse and needs the vigilance of the farmers to ensure that the surroundings of their planted areas are clean,” he said.

He also said that the supply needed by the farmers has already been given to them and they are now checking if they are enrolled in the crop insurance program of the government to help them with the finances needed to recover their losses.