THE City Agriculturist Office is closely watching crops for possible infestation and damage from pests and diseases due to the weak El Niño phenomenon.

City Agriculturist Carmencita Sanchez said a dry spell followed by rainy seasons often bring about infestation of pests and diseases that can affect crop production and yields.

Sanchez said that her office’s watch-list includes pests such as the corn borer, wide-stem and dark-headed stem borer which target rice, black bug, and army worms.

Sanchez said that diseases such as rice tungro virus and bacterial leaf blight are also on watch.

“These pests and diseases target corn and rice,” she added.

Meanwhile, the office of Sanchez has reported a total of P 9.8 million crop and fishery damage from the weak El Niño as of last week.

A total of 8,177 farmers and fisherfolks have been affected by the weak El Niño.

Of this number, Sanchez said that 634 were those who were able to plant and incurred crop damage, and 7,543 were those who were not able to plant. (SunStar Philippines)