Black bug infestation hits northern Iloilo towns
Iloilo -- Rice production in Western Visayas may be affected if the infestation of the Rice Black Bug (RBB) is not immediately contained.
This the Department of Agriculture (DA) feared after knowing that the infestation has already affected 23 hectares of rice land in the town of Ajuy, 86 kilometers north of Iloilo.
In last week's assessment report released by the department, the infestation in the municipality of Ajuy reached to 23 hectares. Barangays Pinantan Diel and Pinantan Elizalde were among the barangays which are badly affected by the RBB. The affected rice lands are irrigated and planted with hybrid and inbred rice.
Barangays Pinantan Diel and Pinantan Elizalde were only two of the barangays in Ajuy identified by the department. Eight other barangays are reportedly affected by RBB. RBB's infestation was also reported in the towns of Sara and Concepcion. As to date, no details are available on the degree of infestation in the two other towns.
The RBB which is also known as Malayan black bug first appeared in 1982 in Palawan. An outbreak was reported in 1992 in Zamboanga, Bicol and Sorsogon. In 1998, the infestation also affected rice lands in Negros Occidental.
It is only this year that the farmers noted the RBB infestation in their rice land. RBB is considered as major pest in rice production. Rice is the primary target of the RBB. Its alternate host are okra, gabi, corn and selected weeds. The use of pesticides has minimal effect on the insects.
As this developed, the department has created an inter agency task force dubbed as Regional Rice Black Bug Task Force to deal with the infestation. The task force was created to pool resources and expertise of local government units and various agencies to contain and prevent the spread of infestation.
DA regional director Jindra Linda Demeterio urged the affected farmers to cease from doing a third cropping. This is to break the life cycle of the RBB. She recommended a synchronous planting especially in areas where vast tracts of land are planted with rice.
Direct seeding is also one of the options to contain the infestation of RBB. The growth stage of direct-seeded rice is shorter than transplanted rice.
The department also recommended duck raising in affected areas. Ducks feed on the insects. They are also contemplating on the setting up of light traps and the use of metarrhizium, a fungus which will eventually kill the RBB.
The department also wants to employ the so-called water-management. The eggs of the RBB once submerged in water within 24 to 36 hours will not hatch or becomes "baog", thus eliminating its propagation.