[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Pest infestation leaves P1.7-M harvest loss ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
Sunday, November 5, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BACOLOD CITY – The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) on Friday recorded about P1.7 million crop production loss due to rice grain bug infestation in southern Negros Occidental.
An OPA report showed around 38 hectares of farmlands in Sipalay City were pest-ridden, affecting 34 rice farmers.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said the rice grain bug is a new pest that infests farms during the dry and wet seasons.
“Previously, only leguminous crops are attacked by these pests,” Masculino said.
The initial infestation of rice grain bugs were recorded last year in Sipalay City, Kabankalan City and Candoni town.
As response, the OPA distributed 25 bags of metarhizium anisopliae as biocontrol agent to affected farmers in southern Negros Occidental.
The distribution was done through the help of the Sipalay City Agriculture Office.
The free metarhizium anisopliae bags were sourced from the Department of Agriculture Region 6 Crop Production Center.
The OPA instructed the farmers that after spraying metarhizium to affected farmlands, they must plow the fields and flood them with water.
“Having the fields flooded with water is one measure to destroy rice grain bugs,” Masculino said.
The OPA also urged local government units to conduct information campaigns and regular monitoring of rice fields, from their tilling to booting stages.
The OPA Crop Protection Team will also conduct seminars on pest management among Bantay Peste Brigade in every city and municipality in the province. (PNA/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
