Farmers warned versus rice tungro infestation
The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 6 (DA-RFU 6) is embarking on a massive information drive to warn farmers about rice tungro virus (RTV) that attacks during the vegetative and reproductive stages of rice.
DA Regional Agriculture and Fishery Information Division (RAFID) chief Jovy Gaton said the RTV is caused by green and zigzag lead hoppers and several other vectors.
“The presence of green and zigzag leaf hoppers in rice farms means that the product is susceptible to tungro,” she said.
Although there is no cure to the virus, it can be prevented, Gaton said.
She said farmers should use tungro resistant varieties such as PSPRC 12, PSPRC 18, RC 14, RC 24, RC 28, RC 36, RC 74, RC 118, RC 130, RC 126, RC 140 and RC 158.
The DA official likewise recommended that farmers to practice synchronous planting within two to four weeks and avoid the use of pesticides 40 days after planting.
Gaton said that it was monitored of rice farms susceptible to the RTV in northern Iloilo.
With this, the DA information officers recently underwent a series of trainings and workshops in connection with the massive information campaign.
The provincial and municipal agriculture offices were encouraged to always integrate the RTV concern during their programs to increase farmers' awareness.
She said that wide areas of rice plantation in Western Visayas were affected by the RTV in 2008. RTV infestation was first monitored in 1983. (PNA)