The Department of Agriculture has confirmed the infestation of “Tongro” in 40 hectares of rice fields in Tanjay City, army worms in Mabinay and Siaton, and black bugs in two hectares in Bindoy, Negros Oriental.
Provincial agriculturist Gregorio Paltingca said “tongro” is a kind of virus that attacks lands planted to non-resistant varieties of rice, and are worse if chemical fertilizers are used.
Paltingca encouraged farmers to use organic fertilizer and tongro-resistant varieties of rice to prevent infestation by the virus.
He, however said that these pests have been neutralized through biological means and timely application of chemicals supplied by the national office.
On the other hand, the department is anticipating the worse kind of pests in corn, which is the corn borer.
Paltingca said infestation of corn borers could not have been possible if not for the ban on the BT corn variety.
Paltingca said it has no reports on rats yet in Negros Oriental.
Like army worms, these pests hibernate during a dry spell, and come out at the onset of the rainy season when there is food.
