Los Baños, Laguna — The National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) is set to carry out a series of studies targeting the effective management of fall armyworms, which have infested sugarcane plantations in Negros Occidental.
According to Philippines News Agency, armyworms have affected approximately 80 hectares of sugarcane and 843 hectares of corn across 15 local government units in Negros Occidental as of July 5. The NCPC team, led by Director Barbara Caoili, conducted a field visit and assessment on July 3 and 4 to evaluate the extent of the infestation, particularly in Himamaylan City and the towns of Binalbagan and Hinigaran, in collaboration with Fifth District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo.
During their visit, significant pest damage was noted, with one specific area in Himamaylan showing 100 percent damage. The team collected parasitized eggs and dead larvae covered by fungi from the affected fields, which will be used to explore potential biological control agents against the armyworms in sugarcane.
The research initiatives by NCPC will include molecular and morpho-cultural identification of the armyworms, susceptibility tests on various insecticides, and the identification and mass production of biological control agents. These studies aim to provide foundational knowledge for developing effective management strategies against this pest.
Furthermore, the NCPC team shared their findings and ongoing research efforts during a sugarplanters' forum held at Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City. The forum, which also included representatives from the OPA, Sugar Regulatory Authority, and Department of Agriculture-Regional Crop Protection Center, discussed potential biological control agents that were collected during the site visit, alongside existing agents proven to control fall armyworms in corn.
The gathering also focused on educating farmers on the proper application of insecticides, a crucial step in pest management emphasized by Rep. Yulo for its significance in effective insect control.