The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the armyworm infestation has minimally affected the local onion farmers, further justifying the government's decision to temporarily halt onion importation.

Data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that out of the 10,217 hectares of onion fields, only 366 hectares, 3.58 percent, have been affected by armyworms, which are the caterpillar-like larvae stage of moths.

BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban reported that among the infested areas, only 6.9 hectares suffered complete crop loss, while 359.1 hectares experienced partial damage.

Around 87 percent of areas planted to onion have red varieties while 13 percent are planted with white onions. The balance are planted to shallots.

“Affected areas are in the towns of Bongabon and Talevera, and Palayan City in Nueva Ecija, and the towns of Anao and San Manuel in Tarlac. No infestation were reported in Bataan, Pampanga and Zambales,” the DA said in a statement on Friday, Jan. 19.

Armyworms are pests known for their destructive behavior in fields. They eat turf grass and other plants, but can be controlled using neem oil sprays or natural predators like earwigs, spiders, and predatory wasps.

Panganiban said the High Value Crops Development Program of the DA has distributed 2.07 tons of onion seeds valued at P30.4 million to farm areas in Central Luzon since December. 

Additionally, he said the BPI and the Regional Crop Protection Center have distributed pheromone lures, neem oil-based insecticides, and technical support to help onion growers affected by the infestation.

An additional 1.3 tons of red and white onion seeds worth P20.3 million and four cold storage for onions valued at P168 million will also be provided to onion-producing areas.

Local government units also pledged to buy more organic insecticides and pheromone lures to deal with armyworms. 

On Friday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has issued a temporary suspension of onion importation until May to avoid further drops in crop prices due to oversupply. 

Laurel noted that the surplus has led to a decrease in onion prices at the farm level, with prices falling to between P50 and P70 per kilo, and the potential for further declines as more onions are harvested in February.