FOLLOWING reports of pest infestations in farmlands brought by erratic changes in weather, the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has requested all City and Municipal Agriculture Officers to monitor agricultural crops.
Aside from this, the PB also urged farmers to use bio-control agents to manage the occurrence of pests in their farmlands.
The resolution of PB Member Thadeo Jovito Ouano is an offshoot to the reported armyworm-infestation in an agricultural learning center in Balamban town last February 7.
Ouano, head of the committee on environment, said that the occurrence of pests like armyworms should be a “cause of concern”.
“Even though reports only state that it appears in Balamban, but we must be extra careful and must do our part to prevent it from infesting the entire province,” reads a portion of the resolution approved on February 18.
The same call for farmers to become more vigilant and regularly monitor their farmlands was made last week by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
According to Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) entomologist Christopher Paran, the change in weather conditions from dry to cold season and vice versa is favorable for pests and diseases.
Pests and diseases like rice black bugs (RRB), rodents, rice stem borer, rice tungro virus and the bacterial leaf blight are likely to occur from January to March.
Bienvenido Acabal Jr., the RCPC chief, said RRBs were spotted in Carcar City and parts of Negros Oriental. (RTF)