SOME 14.22 million losses were recorded in Northern Samar farms last month due to rice black bug (RBB) infestation affecting 29,434 hectares in 17 out of 24 municipalities in the province.
The Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) of the Department of Agriculture said the situation is alarming and harder to address with the presence of vast forest area in the province, which serves as reservoir of this damaging pest.
“The infestation has been there since last year. We cannot completely eliminate RBB in Northern Samar but its population can be minimized through mitigation measures and participation of local government units and farmers themselves,” said RCPC chief Reynaldo Salamat in an interview.
The amount of losses only accounts the damage recorded in November when the inventory was conducted, said Salamat.
Heavily infested areas were Palapag, Catubig and Pambujan. Other municipalities such as Laoang, San Roque, Las Navas, Gamay, Catarman, Bobon, Rosario, Allen, Mondragon, Capul, Lavezares, San Jose, San Isidro and Victoria are all lightly infested by the RBB.
Severely damaged farms noted an average of 84 percent degree of infestation while slightly affected areas recorded an average of 1.25 percent.
“For the towns of Palapag, Catubig, and Pambujan, those areas that yield 100 bags of rice now produces only 16 bags due to RBB infestation,” Salamat said.
The infestation report will be presented by regional officials to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in his visit to Northern Samar next week.
As of last month, the RCPC recorded up to 20 bugs present in a single plant. The population density per hill is lower than the up to 50 bugs per plant recorded in June 2011 considering that November is planting season.
Biological control measure using Metarhizium, a fungus that could infect the rice black bug, is the major activity being undertaken by the DA to arrest the spread of this pest. Metarhizium laboratories have been established in the province.
Regular light trapping operation is being conducted every month during full moon (which includes the three days before and after full moon).
The activity helps in pulling down rice black bug populations to a “non-damaging” level. At least 55 light traps were distributed in these 17 towns.
Other mitigating measures include integrated pest management advocacy, organizing and educating the Bantay Peste Team in villages, and intensified information drive in farming communities.
RBB infestation was first recorded in 2004 in Libagon, Southern Leyte. The pest spread in Leyte and Samar provinces but the situation in five provinces is now controlled, said Salamat.
