CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The rains brought about by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the archipelago is expected to slow down the devastating effects of the army and cat worms that have been pestering some 44 hectares of land in Bataan province.
It could be remembered that hectares of land planted with rice, corn, watermelon and cassava were damaged in the towns of Mariveles, Hermosa, Samal, Orani and Abucay have been damaged by the army and cat worms that recur in towns of this province every five years.
“We expect a slow down and a reduction in the number of infested areas as the worms find it difficult to eat on flooded fields and rains tend to separate them from the infested plants,” Gatus said, stressing that farmers in Bataan were advised to use insecticide spray as a last resort in case the worms are found to be uncontrollable through traditional methods.
Armyworms are most destructive during the larval stage, but could be controlled by the insecticide sprays Carbaryl and Pyrethroids.
Gatus also said that the Department of Agriculture (DA) National Office had already ordered some P900,000 worth of knapsack sprayers and insecticides for local government units and agriculture technicians to control armyworms that attack farms in Bataan, as well as in Batangas, Cavite, and Quezon, which have been reported to also been hit by the infestation.
As of press time over the weekend, the DA here has met with the Bataan Mayors League to coordinate local efforts in minimizing the damage and eliminating the armyworms who continue to damage farm fields.
Gatus said that the DA will assist farmers who have been affected by the infestation and will come up with a total tally of the damages in the coming weeks.
The DA said that the mayors of Bataan have now coordinated their efforts and information sharing on ways to eliminate the worms.
He said that they are now coordinating the creation of the Bantay Peste Brigade to monitor and implement interventions on the current and future infestations as may be brought by the worms.
Armyworms are nocturnal moth larvae that travel in multitudes, destroying vegetation including grass and grain along their path. One egg mass is equivalent to 100 to 300 eggs, which turn into voracious defoliators once hatched, the department said.