by James Earl E. Ogatis
Iloilo City–Total number of hectares of agricultural crops affected by pest and diseases dramatically dropped in Western Visayas in 2012 compared to the 2011 incidence.
According to Rene B. Famoso, entomologist of DA-Regional Crop Protection Center (DA-RCPC), defoliators which affected 9,179 hectares in 2011 has affected a total of 3,510 hectares only in 2012.
Other insect pests infestation also dropped like stemborer from 7,846 has. in 2011 to 2,003 has in 2012; brown plant hopper (BPH) from 1,354 has. to 306 has.; green leaf hopper (GLH) from 299 has. to 176 has. and rice bug (RB) from 5,946 has. to 1,189 has.
Famoso emphasized that only rice black bug (RBB) infestation increased from 22 has. affected in 2011 to 100 has. in 2012 due to the increase in the number of municipalities affected. Last year, new incidence of RBB had been monitored in 5 municipalities of the 3rd district of Iloilo.
He added that favorable weather conditions and heavy usage of chemicals considerably killed friendly insects contributing to the increase in population of rice black bug.
Rice diseases such as rice tungro virus (RTV) also decreased from 656 has. to 23 has.; rice blast from 3,541 to 65 has.; bacterial leaf blight from 293 has. to 149 has. and sheath blight from 28 has. to 13 has.
Famoso said that rodents which affected 30,748 has. in 2011 has only infested 24,679 has. The rats’ incidence which is prevalent during dry season crops in Iloilo and Capiz had decreased due to sustained baiting, mass physical killing and sanitation activities by local government units and distribution of rodenticides by DA-RFU 6.
He encouraged farmers, agricultural extension workers and members of bantay peste brigade to sustained their efforts to regularly monitor pest incidence in their respective locality to eradicate/minimize pest and diseases incidence this year. /MP
No comments:
Post a Comment