Pests ravage sugarcane plantations in Bukidnon

Technicians from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) in Bukidnon inspect sugarcane plants confirmed to be infested with red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI). Photo from SRA Bukidnon

QUEZON, Bukidnon – The highly-destructive red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) has infected about 30 hectares of sugarcane plantations in Kitaotao, Bukidnon, with planters warning of a possible widespread devastation if immediate measures are not properly taken.

In Negros and Panay Islands, at least 1,788 hectares of sugarcane farms had been infested by RSSI (Pulvinaria tenuivalvata) as of June 4, affecting 869 farmers in 172 barangays, the the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reported. The agency employed drone and manual spraying to contain the pest.

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READ: In Northern Mindanao, corn harvest seen to drop amid pest attack

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Manuel Antonio Zubiri, Mindanao Federation of Sugarcane Farmers (MINFED), pressed the alarm over the possible spread of the RSSI in sugarcane plantations in Bukidnon and neighboring provinces.

“We need to determine how and where this infestation originated because it poses a serious threat to our sugar industry and the livelihoods that depend on it,” he said.

In an emergency meeting on Tuesday, SRA and MINFED officials confirmed that about 30 hectares of sugarcane plantations in Barangays East Dalurong and Sinaysayan in Kitaotao town tested positive for RSSI infestation, with some areas already suffering severe damage.

Zubiri said the discovery raised concerns over how the pest reached Bukidnon and warned of its potential impact on the sugar industry in Mindanao, if left uncontained.

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Johnny Agsaoay Jr., SRA Bukidnon Mill District officer, said authorities were also validating reports of suspected RSSI infestation in Barangays Bagontaas and Vintar in Valencia City and in parts of Don Carlos town.

He said technical teams had been deployed to immediately assess the reported cases and implement necessary control measures.

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Agsaoay said the SRA also organized a task force to monitor sugarcane plantations in Bukidnon and nearby provinces and prevent the pest from spreading further.

Pablo Luis Azcona, SRA head, told the Inquirer in a phone interview the agency is closely monitoring the situation in Bukidnon, following instructions from Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to undertake urgent action against the infestation.

Initial investigations by the SRA suggest the pest may have been transported through trucks, farm equipment, tools, or human movement, although authorities have yet to determine the exact cause.

Zubiri urged sugar industry groups, federations, and farmers to remain vigilant and immediately report suspected infestations to authorities.

He noted that swift containment efforts are crucial as the pest threatens not only sugar production but also the economy of communities dependent on the industry across Bukidnon and other parts of Mindanao.

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RSSI is a sugarcane pest that first emerged in the Philippines in 2022. The pest excretes honeydew that damages a sugarcane’s ability to photosynthesize due to fungal growth, leading to blackened leaves and lower yield. /jpv