DA school-on-air tackles plant hoppers infestation
The Department of Agriculture 6 School-On-Air this week will be dedicated to discussions on the brown plant hoppers which have infested rice lands in Iloilo and Capiz.
Juvy Gaton, DA 6 information officer and radio anchor of the SOA, said the discussion aims to help farmers stop the pests from further damaging their crops.
Gaton said rice experts will discuss the effects of the pests which threaten rice production in Iloilo.
The SOA will also discuss fast ways to stop the infestation, along with pest management and natural ways to prevent pests.
DA Regional Director Larry Nacionales said all their rice experts and agricultural coordinators in the municipalities have been directed to use all possible resources to stop the spread of brown leaf hoppers.
If left unchecked, brown plant hoppers could significantly affect the Iloilo rice industry for the coming months, and the province may be forced to buy rice from other regions.
This has never happened for a long time, Nacionales said.
The brown plant hoppers have affected more than 18 towns in Iloilo province. It has ravaged rice plantations in such as way that ready-to-harvest rice grains are wilting away before reaping time.
The DA 6’s SOA airs every Monday to Friday, from 4 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.,
over DYRI Radio Mindanao Network. It currently has more than 300 farmer- students all over the province.*PNA
