DA allocates P2 M to fight off black bug
Iloilo City -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated P2 million for the light trap operations and public information campaign against the Rice Black Bug (RBB) which affected some towns in the northern and central part of Iloilo.
Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban said with the funding the infestation could be stopped in four to five months if only the farmers will cooperate.
Panganiban was in Iloilo last Monday for the inauguration of several DA projects in Tubungan and a building in Iloilo City.
Panganiban recommended to farmers to practice synchronous planting to break the cycle of the RBB. This will stop bugs from having a host. Rice is the primary target of the RBB. Its alternate host are okra, gabi, corn and selected weeds. The RBB is considered as major pest in rice production.
In the light trapping operation, 500-1,000 watts of intensity is used to attract the bugs. They then go directly to a funnel and placed in sacks. The department along with the municipal officials of Ajuy have already initiated the light trapping operation Monday night. They are eyeing to conduct the light trapping operations during full moon.
The first RBB infestation was observed in the town of Ajuy, 86 kilometers north of Iloilo. It then spread to other towns in the central part of Iloilo. 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.
The DA officials believed the RBB came from Negros Occidental since there is an existing port that links Ajuy and Negros Occidental.