ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Office of the City Agriculturist reported that fall armyworms have destroyed six hectares of corn in Barangay Mampang here.
Edgardo Ramos, barangay kagawad and chairperson of the barangay Committee on Agriculture, said around 20 members of the Mampang Integrated Farmers Association were affected by the infestation.
The infestation started in July and continues to date.
Ramos attributed the infestation to climate change.
The Office of the City Agriculturist is implementing measures to control the infestation.
Fall armyworm, with scientific name Spodoptera Frugiperda, is a polyphagous insect that feeds on corn and around 80 other crops.