ALMOST 32 hectares of corn plantations in three barangays of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, were infested by armyworms, causing an estimated production losses of P254,240.
Based on the Pest Monitoring Report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) for the period of June 27 to July 5 this year, 31.1 hectares of corn farms, or 100 percent of the total plantation area in four sitios of Barangay Guadalupe were infested by armyworms.
Corn farmers in Sitios Gigalaman, Butaan, Gabon and Handalago, whose crops are on vegetative growth stage, incurred an estimated production loss of P248,800.
Reports further showed that of the 8.8-hectare corn plantation in Sitio Abaca, Barangay Palampas, 0.44 hectare, or five percent were infested by the pest. The value of damage was estimated at P3,520.
Another 0.24-hectare, or five percent of the total 4.8 hectares of corn plantation in Sitios Masapod and Anagsing in Barangay Nataban were damaged by armyworms, causing losses worth P1,920.
Both barangays also have infested crops that are on the vegetative stage, it added.
Senior Agriculturist Armando Abaño, crop protection coordinator of OPA, told Sun.Star Bacolod Monday, July 11, that pest infestation in these areas was already contained.
Abaño said control measures were immediately conducted to counter possible adverse effects, particularly huge production losses.
“The local government of San Carlos has provided pesticides in the conduct of massive spraying operations in the affected farms,” he said, adding that since crops are currently on the vegetative stage, losses can still be recovered.
Armyworms are green-striped caterpillar larvae of the adult armyworm moth.
As common pest of grass, armyworms also damages corn, rice, beets, beans, clover, flax, millet, and other grains.
The pest could bring huge losses to corn particularly during the maturing stage while on the ripening stage, for rice, Abaño said.
The breeding ground for army worms is developed during rainy season thus, monitoring measures should continue especially among areas with history of pest infestations, Abaño said.
OPA has again warned farmers in the province to brace for pests and plant diseases during the rainy season by activating their respective local protection teams and Bantay Peste Brigades.
Like the recent prolonged dry weather associated with El Niño, if not properly mitigated, crops are also susceptible to effects of La Niña.