DA Allocates P35M for Drone Operations to Combat Sugarcane Pest

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated P35 million for chemicals and drone operations to combat the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI), which is threatening the country’s sugar industry, particularly in Negros Island and Western Visayas. The DA said drone operations will initially cover 25,000 hectares of sugarcane farms, with the target potentially expanding to 45,000 hectares if the infestation worsens. “This is about protecting an industry that supports thousands of farmers, workers, and their families,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement. “Every hectare we save means protecting livelihoods, preserving sugar production, and keeping one of the country's most important agricultural industries strong. We intend to act quickly, decisively, and in close partnership with local governments,” he added. First detected in Pampanga several years ago, RSSI (Pulvinaria tenuivalvata) is an invasive, sap-sucking pest that attacks sugarcane by feeding on vital plant fluids and promoting the growth of black sooty mold, the DA said. The mold forms a layer over sugarcane leaves that blocks sunlight and interferes with photosynthesis, resulting in stunted growth, lower yields, and reduced sugar content. Of the 421,606 hectares planted with sugarcane nationwide this crop year, 93,898 hectares have been affected by RSSI, according to the DA. Of these, 92,295 hectares are in Negros Island and Western Visayas. The infestation has also reportedly affected 12,700 farmers. In coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the DA will provide P10,000 in cash assistance to each validated affected farmer as immediate relief. Meanwhile, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) will provide geotagged infestation data, technical assistance, and validated estimates of affected areas to guide local interventions. The SRA will also provide laboratory designs, technical training, and mother cultures to enable local facilities to build stockpiles ahead of future outbreaks. “Our objective is to minimize crop losses, stabilize sugar production, and prevent unnecessary disruptions in supply,” SRA Administrator and CEO Pablo Luis Azcona said in a statement. “The faster we do this, the better we can protect farmers' incomes, sustain milling operations, and help keep sugar prices stable for consumers,” he added.— MCG, GMA News