Onion farmers onions losing battle vs. army worms
ARMY worms or harabas have already invaded much of onion farms in Pangasinan and local governments are helpless.
About 232.12 hectares of farmland in Bayambang’s 28 barangays planted to onions by 611 farmers have been invaded by armyworms, too.
Bayambang produces about 23 metric tons of red onions yearly.
A damage report from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) dated Jan. 11, 2021, showed the damaged areas represent 32 percent damage of 722.99 total hectares planted.
Affected whose onions plants from seedling, bulbing, vegetative to maturity stages.
The infestation was noted last month yet prompting the onion growers to do forced harvest to minimize their losses.
Zyra Orpiano, the Municipal Agriculture Officer said they have distributed organic-based insecticide, bio-control agents, lure traps, and conducted Integrated Pest Management lectures for strategies on how to control the infestation but that was too late.
About 1,500 hectares in the town are planted to red onions and another 80 hectares to white onions.
Bayambang farmers in about 35 barangays are planting onions but those with highest production are in Barangays Manambong Sur, Manambong Norte, Manambong Parte, Amancosiling Sur, Amancosiling Norte, San Gabriel and Buayaen.
The affected barangays are San Gabriel II, Reynado, Inirangan, Inanlorezana, Bical Sur, Warding, Hermoza, Manambong Norte, Amancosiling Norte, Pugo, Tanolong, Buenlag 2nd, Batangcaoa, Dusoc, Darawey, Ataynan, Buenlag 1st, Amancosiling Sur, Nalsian Sur, Nalsian Norte, Malioer, Mangayao, Pangdel, Carungay, Ligue, Idong, Banaban and Bongato West.
There are about 1,000 onion farmers in the town.
Onions here are brought to Metro Manila and other provinces for trading.
As of Jan. 21, almost P73-million worth of onions has been lost due to army worms attack, the MAO said. (Eva Visperas)
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