Onion pest infestation in Bayambang checked

By April 20, 2009Inside News, News

BAYAMBANG–The rice-onion farmers continue to wage a battle against the invasion of the dreaded onion pest called anthracnose that resurfaced after it created havoc in their farms in 2000-2001.

Fortunately for the farmers, they have found a crucially in the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). In collaboration with the Bayambang municipal government, “Oplan Sagip Sibuyas”, has since been launched in September 2008 to address the infestation.

Herminia Rapusas, the agency’s rice-onion expert and coordinator of the Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Program, has been assigned to the area to oversee the progress of the efforts.

Rice-onion farmers are being taught to control the onion pests not through chemicals but through integrated pest management (IPM) technique.

IPM is being endorsed by experts not as a mere pest control method but an environmentally sensitive approach that combines biological and cultural management methods and technologies.

Among the activities already conducted under Oplan Sagip Sibuyas are a mini-parade, including exhibit of campaign materials and an open forum between experts and activities were held.

An information caravan to educate farmers on methods for the management of common onion pest and diseases is also set.

The campaign will cover farmers in the two focus sites, Barangays Tatarac and Manambong Parte, and in nearby villages.

Based on the agency’s records, an outbreak of anthracnose in 2000 to 2001 caused a yield loss of as high as 80 to 100 percent.–LM

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