DUMAGUETE CITY — Agriculture officials in Negros Oriental are battling a severe outbreak of fall armyworms that has already devastated large areas of corn fields across the province, posing a significant threat to local agriculture.
According to Philippines News Agency, Chief of the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), the infestation has affected approximately 1,683 hectares of corn fields in eight municipalities as of July 16. The most heavily impacted area, Vallehermoso, experienced total destruction over 168 hectares. Other affected municipalities include Manjuyod, Bindoy, La Libertad, Tayasan, Ayungon, Jimalalud, and San Jose, with reports of at least 50 percent damage to their corn crops.
Caduyac explained that fall armyworms, which tend to attack crops following a dry spell and subsequent heavy rains, were first noted just as the rainy season commenced a few weeks ago. These pests, which transform into moths, can rapidly spread to adjacent fields, escalating the risk of widespread agricultural damage.
Efforts to control the outbreak are currently underway, with local government units deploying chemical treatments in the hope of protecting neighboring farms. However, Caduyac warned that recovery chances are slim for heavily infested areas due to the pests' tendency to burrow into corn stalks, making them difficult to eliminate manually.
The PAO is actively assessing the full extent of the damage, particularly in northern towns, while reports from other parts of the province are still pending. Despite the grim outlook, Caduyac reassured that affected farmers might receive support from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation. Decisions regarding further interventions or aid from local and provincial governments will depend on a more detailed understanding of the infestation's impact.