DA ramps up fight against sugarcane pest

MANILA, Philippines – The government is stepping up efforts to contain the destructive red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) by mass-producing a naturally occurring fungus to protect sugarcane farms.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced the production of biological control agents to combat the pest infestation in Negros

READ: Planters call on DA, SRA to address pest infestation in sugar farms

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“I told SRA to address the RSSI infestation head on. We have the technology and the capability to produce the biocontrol agent to do so,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said during the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) 40th anniversary celebration.

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Tiu Laurel said the biological control agents, living organisms that suppress the pest, should cover at least 75,000 hectares. These will be produced by the Bureau of Plant Industry laboratories and other DA facilities.

Deploying drones

Last week, the SRA commenced the drone application of insecticides in Barangay Camandag in La Castellana, Negros Occidental spanning 3.43 hectares of sugarcane farms.

The move aims to reduce pest populations, limit crop damage and boost productivity while protecting existing sugarcane crops.

The SRA said it will use drone technology in addressing the proliferation of RSSI in regions where sugarcane is cultivated.

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The SRA said infestations in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental may exceed 30% of planted areas, with about 4,600 hectares verified so far.

READ: SRA: Pests threaten Negros sugar fields

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“Reports from industry sources indicate the pest may have spread further to Iloilo, Capiz and Leyte, and even Mindanao, raising fears that the affected area could expand sharply if left unchecked,” it said.

First detected in 2022, RSSI can slash sugar content in affected cane by up to 50 percent if left unchecked.

The SRA convened an inter-agency task force to contain RSSI and train farmers on pest management after detecting the first case in May 2025.

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At present, the SRA has earmarked P8 million for the infestation response, while the DA stands ready to fund expanded fungus production and AI-based pest monitoring. /pai INQ