ILOILO CITY, Sept. 17 (PIA) - - The Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) of the Department of Agriculture 6 has already coordinated with local government units in the province of Iloilo to alert them of the possible threat of massive infestation of army worms.
As of September 14, infestations were monitored in the towns of Miag-ao and Tigbauan and sighting was also reported in Maasin town, according to Ryan Rasgo, chief of DA 6- RCPC.
In Miag-ao, the infestation was detected in a 21-hectare rice areas in six barangays of the town namely, Bagumbayan, Ticdalan, Cawayan, Igpandan, Igbugo, and Igcabitoon.
Rasgo said a team will be going to Miag-ao on Wednesday to conduct validation and assessment of the severity of damage and bring chemicals and biocontrol agents to contain the army worms.
He said Tigbauan was already provided with the recommended pesticides and biological agents against the pest detected in a 10-hectare rice area in the town.
Rasgo urged farmers and local agricultural workers to intensify their monitoring and surveillance on the occurrences of army worms considering the direct damage its infestation will bring to crops, particularly of rice where some are now at the harvest stage in some areas of the province.
Army worms are dangerous nocturnal pests that can cut off leaves and rice panicles from base. They can transfer from one field to another and damage the crops.
“The weather right now, where we have seldom rain and is warmer, makes it conducive for army worms to thrive”, said Rasgo.
He asked farmers to report to their respective local government units if they have pest problem or concerns so that this will be acted upon immediately.
They may also contact RCPC 6 through telephone number (033) 329-6958 or email at da_rcpc@yahoo.com. (JSC/laf/PIA6 I
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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