Thirteen towns and cities in Negros Occidental have been infested by army worms, Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan reported to Governor Alfredo Marañon yesterday.

He said  as of yesterday the worms have infested 10 hectares of rice in Barangays Blumentritt and Talotog in Murcia, .025 hectares of rice in Candoni town, 2.30 hectares of corn and sugarcane plantations in Kabankalan City, 2.0 hectares of sugarcane and 38 hectares of corn  in Hacienda Fe and Barangay Langub in Escalante City and 28 hectares of sugarcane plantation in Silay City.

The pests also hit 2.0 hectares of sugarcane and 5 hectares of grassland in Cadiz City, while 353.2 hectares of rice with an estimated P164,106.80 damage to crops, PAO’s records also showed.

Tabianan also reported that there were also infestations in 14 hectares of rice fields in Himamaylan City and 0.21 hectares of Mongo in Talisay City. He added that the pests hit the towns of Moises Padilla, La Castellana, E.B. Magalona and Calatrava but did not specify how wide the areas affected were.

To ease the situation, Tabianan said they are now controlling the defoliators of armyworms and have also started to integrate pest management for rats, rice black bugs, locusts and other pests.

He also said they will distribute informational materials to all areas affected by the pests, will reactivate community based control action teams, recommend to all crop based local government unit personnel to prioritize and sustain crop protection activities and conduct public safety awareness.*APN

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