The fall armyworm infestation in Negros Oriental has spread to 22 of the 25 towns and cities in the Province, a Department of Agriculture official said Wednesday.
Alejandro Rafal, DA-Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office chief, told the media the infestation is spreading fast, and has invaded 7,586 hectares planted with corn across the province.
The towns and cities whose corn plantations were destroyed by the fall armyworms are Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, Tayasan, Dauin, La Libertad, Manjuyod, Bindoy, Sta. Catalina, Jimalalud, Ayungon, Mabinay, Basay, Bais City, Bayawan City, Zamboanguita City, Guihulngan City, Tanjay City, Bacong, Amlan, Pamplona, Siaton, and Dumaguete City.
Only the towns of Sibulan, San Jose and Valencia have yet to submit their reports or may not have experienced armyworm infestations so far, a report from the DA-PATCO showed.
Rafal said agriculture technicians in the LGUs have yet to compute as to the monetary losses caused by the infestation.
He added that the estimates will be based on how much damage has been inflicted on the corn fields at different planting stages, such as vegetative, maturity, flowering, and budding.
Efforts to contain the spread of the fall armyworms include the spraying of insecticides, the introduction of trichogramma biocontrol agents, and handpicking, he added. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
