Sugarcane killer spreads across Bukidnon

MARAMAG, Bukidnon — Sugarcane farmers in Bukidnon and neighboring provinces are on heightened alert as a rapidly spreading infestation of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) threatens to ravage the region’s sugar industry.The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reported that RSSI-infested sugarcane areas in Bukidnon increased from 30 hectares in Kitaotao on June 17 to 53.29 hectares as of June 19, raising concerns over the pest’s impact on production and farmers’ livelihoods.

READ: Pests ravage sugarcane plantations in BukidnonThe Mindanao Sustainable Sugarcane Agricultural Development Federation Inc. (MINFED), which represents 23,704 members, warned that the pests pose a serious threat to the local economy if left unchecked.Juan Manuel Zubiri, MINFED president, said the federation is coordinating with local government units, the SRA, and major sugar mills in Bukidnon to contain the infestation before it spreads beyond the affected communities.SRA records show varying levels of infestation in the villages of East Dalurong, Sinaysayan, and Pagan in Kitaotao; Sinayawan in Valencia City; and Puntian in Quezon town.The RSSI was first detected in Bukidnon last month and is believed to have spread rapidly following periods of rainfall, according to Johnny Agsaoay Jr., SRA Bukidnon Mill District officer.Agriculture officials are particularly concerned because RSSI has already devastated nearly 5,000 hectares of sugarcane plantations in the Visayas, affecting 2,587 farmers across Negros, Panay, and Leyte.

READ: Visayas sugar farm insect infestation prompts emergency meetingThe SRA reported that infested areas in those regions more than doubled within six days, eventually spreading to 244 villages.In Bukidnon, which is part of Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), this was the first recorded RSSI infestation, Agsaoy said.

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SRA workers have begun spraying affected areas and have intensified field monitoring to prevent further spread.Pablo Luis Azcona, SRA administrator, said the agency is closely monitoring the situation in Bukidnon following directives from Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to implement urgent containment measures.

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, the SRA said in a statement./coa

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