Farmers in the 5th District of Negros Occidental are facing a new challenge: an armyworm infestation that threatens sugarcane and corn crops.
Representative Emilio Yulo III of the 5th District reported sightings of armyworms in Sitio Iling-iling, Brgy. Cabadiangan, Himamaylan City, attacking sugarcane fields. Cornfields in Brgy. Santol, Binalbagan, and crops in Isabela town have also been affected.
The infestation primarily targets sugarcane, with reports indicating damage to large portions of fields.
Armyworms wreak havoc by causing defoliation, the premature removal of leaves, hindering plant growth.
Nilo Basco Jr., head of the Crop Protection Section of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), confirmed the presence of both fall armyworms and cutworms, with the most significant damage reported in the sugarcane fields of Barangays Cabadiangan and Carabalan in Himamaylan.
To prevent further spread, the OPA, in collaboration with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), is set to conduct a large-scale spraying operation on Thursday. This decisive action aims to contain the armyworm population and protect crops in neighboring areas.
Basco noted that the armyworm invasion coincides with the recent rainfall following a prolonged dry season. This shift in weather conditions may have contributed to the surge in pest activity.
