Negros gov seeks ‘green’ solution to sugarcane pest

GROUND BATTLE VS RSSI Spraying operations continue against the red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) in sugarcane farms in Bukidnon province. On Negros Island, sugarcane farmers are seeking wider and faster effort to fight the pest through aerial spraying, although the governor of Negros Occidental prefers an environment-friendly solution. BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government would “go green” in the fight to eradicate the red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) that had infested the province’s sugarcane fields, vowing that they will not fund the proposed islandwide aerial spraying of chemicals. The provincial government will only support biological control or natural approach to prevent the spread of not only RSSI but also to address all future pest problems, Lacson pointed out. He said the province is looking at fungal production as one of the primary ways to fight RSSI, Lacson added. READ: Sugarcane pest attacks other crops in Negros The governor’s pronouncements resonated with leaders of different sectors who earlier expressed concern over the planned massive aerial spraying. Lacson acknowledged the concerns that because wind direction cannot be controlled, and there are densely populated barangays and aquaculture and livestock farms near sugarcane fields that will be affected by the chemical spray. He noted that the provincial government has already declared a province-wide state of calamity due to RSSI to hasten the release of funds to address the problem. With this, there is no longer a need for individual town and city governments to issue similar declarations as the provincial declaration allows them to release their own local disaster response funds, he said. READ: Pest ravages sugarcane farms in the Visayas Already, at least 60,000 hectares of sugar farms in Negros Occidental, which produces 60 percent of the country’s sugar requirements, had been ravaged by RSSI. If not addressed soon, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is worried the pest infestation could result in about 30 percent drop in the country’s sugar output, which means lost sales of about P17.5 billion. Manuel Lamata, president of United Federation of Sugar Producers, had proposed undertaking aerial spraying, at the estimated cost of some P200 million, to cover 250,000 hectares of sugar farms on Negros Island. Lamata maintained that the aerial spraying is safe for animals and humans, adding that drones would be used in areas within 200 meters of residential houses. But former SRA chief Rafael Coscolluela expressed concern over the environmental impact of a proposed Negros-wide aerial spraying of chemical pesticides to fight the pest. “On paper, aerial spraying by airplane sounds good, but let us look at its practicality,” Coscolluela said. “What will be its effect on communities that might become unintended victims of the spraying, since they are saying chemical pesticides will be used?” He asked how the spraying can be kept within targeted farms when wind direction must be considered. Coscolluela also worried over its impact on poultry farms, wildlife, such as beneficial insects, rivers, and groundwater sources used for drinking by local residents. /cb