Plant hopper infestation now in 10 Iloilo towns
The infestation of plant hoppers in ricefields in 10 Iloilo towns has prompted
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. to call municipal agriculture officers to a meeting at the Provincial Capitol today to discuss ways to address pest problem.
Figures of the Provincial Agriculture Office show 4,483 hectares of ricelands are already affected, with 1,116 hectares damaged.
Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo said they could not yet quantify the losses in terms of monetary value as the amount would depend on the stages of the crops.
The infestation was reported in Lemery, 31 barangays; Passi City, 22 barangays; Barotac Viejo, 18 barangays; San Enrique, 17 barangays; Lambunao, 9 barangays, along with Dingle, Calinog, Janiuay, San Rafael and Tubungan towns.
The affected crops were under the vegetative, reproductive, and ripening stages.
Defensor met with the Department of Agriculture 6 experts on Monday to formulate plans to combat the infestation.
One of the matters discussed was the proper use of insecticides to prevent the spread of the pests attacking the ricelands.
Defensor had earlier ordered the release of P100,000 for the purchase of pesticides against plant hoppers.
He told Toledo to procure pesticides under emergency procedure.
Toledo, for his part, has advised farmers to start treatment as soon as they notice symptoms of hoppers attack.*
