03 Oct Bukidnon Faces New Threat, Locusts to Infest Agricultural Areas
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The province of Bukidnon was the most affected among the five provinces in Region 10 during the long El Niño phenomenon which lasted until June of this year, 2016. And now, Mindanao’s food basket faces another threat with the presence of locusts.
In a report coming from the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) of the Department of Agriculture Northern Mindanao office, locusts were seen massing up in towns of Maramag and Don Carlos, and in Valencia City.
According to Virgie Rendon, chief of RCPC, it was in mid-September when farmers in Don Carlos first reported to their office that they observed the presence of locusts in their farm lots.
Meanwhile, Gregorio Orboc who is the RCPC senior research associate said that the infestation of locusts has already affected at least six hectares of farmland and if not given proper attention, it might affect other agricultural areas in the province. Locusts may cause a less damage to sugar cane plantation, but will do more to corn and rice fields.
Currently, the RCPC and the local government units are monitoring and the said infestation of locusts and are considering measures to contain the pest. This was according to Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Divison chief Grace Sta. Elena.
Pesticides have already been distributed to the affected towns in order for the farmers to use it against the pests, as noted by the RCPC. And according to Rendon, the pesticide inventory is only for buffer stock which means it will only be available if the municipal government run out of supply.
And with the shortage of pesticides, Orboc said that the local government units must increase its supply so all the farmers can avail of it. he added that to combat the locusts, 2 types of fungi namely metarhizium and beauveria will be used.
When not contained, by December, the locusts will grow in number and eat up crops, not just in the province of Bukidnon but also other Northern Mindanao areas since these pests are migratory. However, if the farmers will double their efforts through spraying pesticides constantly, the said threat will be neutralized within a month.
Source: Sun.Star
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