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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Only 5-10% of rice fields affected by pests in Isabela—DA

Only 5-10% of rice fields affected by pests in Isabela—DA

Published Nov 7, 2023 11:48 am

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The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday, Nov. 7, clarified that only five to 10 percent of rice fields in Isabela have been affected by insect infestation that was reported to have hit the province.

This data, according to DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, makes it impossible to affect the overall production of rice in the province. 

Earlier, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) claimed that the rising price of unmilled rice was due to the devastation of stem borer to Isabela farms. 

The group added that this causes rice prices in Metro Manila to go up.

“Base doon sa report na nakuha namin sa Regional Field Office namin sa Cagayan Valley, bagama’t tinamaan ng stem borer iyong Isabela, only about 75 hectares out of the total hundred twenty thousand hectares na palayan ng Isabela iyong naapektuhan ( Based on the report we got from our Regional Field Office in Cagayan Valley, although Isabela was hit by the stem borer, only about 75 hectares out of the total hundred twenty thousand hectares of Isabela's rice fields were affected),” de Mesa in a televised briefing.

“And of the 75 hectares na may reported na infestation ng stem borer only about 5 to 10 percent iyong naapektuhan. So, napakaliit nito at hindi ito makakaapekto sa overall production natin sa buong probinsiya ng Isabela at sa buong Region II (And of the 75 hectares with reported stem borer infestation, only about 5 to 10 percent were affected. So, it is very small and it will not affect our overall production in the entire province of Isabela and the entire Region II),” he went on.

A stem borer is a type of insect or larvae that burrows into the stems or stalks of plants, typically feeding on the inner tissues.

They can cause significant damage to a wide range of crops, including corn, rice, sugarcane, and other grain or grass-like plants.

According to the DA spokesperson, the Regional Crop Protection Center is taking necessary action throughout the province and region to ensure that the stem borer infestation does not worsen.

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