Rice farmers in Negros Occidental suffered losses amounting to PHP11.544 million brought by various crop pests in the past four months. A report released by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) on Tuesday showed the infestations were caused by rice black bugs, rats, and bacterial leaf blight between the period November 2018 and February 2019. Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said the OPA Provincial Crop Protection Team conducted field check from February 27 until March 14 to continuously validate the presence of pests in identified areas. They have also released 15 packs of metarhizium anisopliae, a soil inhabiting fungus, for biological control in areas affected by rice black bug, he added. The worst-hit by rice black bug are 170 farmers in seven barangays of Pontevedra, incurring losses totaling PHP9.612 million in more than 208 hectares. Also in Pontevedra, 33 farmers in five barangays reported losses worth PHP1.161 million due to rat infestation, affecting 31 hectares. In Cauayan, 21 farmers suffered losses amounting to PHP769,910 brought about by bacterial leaf blight which causes wilting of seedlings and yellowing and drying of leaves. Masculino said they have instructed local government units to continue field monitoring and reactivate the Bantay Peste Brigades for sustained and collaborative pest management. The OPA chief earlier said that pest infestation is one of the pressing threats to the agriculture sector in Negros Occidental along with calamities and climate change. He also urged farmers, who are uninsured, to avail of crop insurance to help them recover from production losses brought about by calamities. Source - https://ptvnews.ph