Pests threaten Nueva Ecija rice crops
Crop losses The El Niño dry spell lays to waste an entire corn harvest recently in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija. Agricultural losses have amounted to billions of pesos, according to the Department of Agriculture.
JAM STA ROSA/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – Various pests are now posing a threat to rice production in this province for the current harvest season, adversely affecting the country’s food security. Pests such as rats, rice stem borers, brown planthoppers, and rice bugs have been identified as the primary culprits.
According to Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) crop protection expert Leonardo Marquez, these four main pests that plague rice production in the province have the capacity to destroy all the rice planted in a field.
He added that one rat alone has the capacity to destroy 300 tillers in one night, citing that if the infestation is really bad, it can destroy up to 90 percent of rice that is to be harvested.
The official cited that farmers need to constantly monitor their rice fields and immediately act in getting rid of pests, especially during the current stage of planting. He added that even a small negligence on their part would result in the destruction of their harvest or a reduction in the quality of their harvested rice.
Aside from rats, rice stem borers are another problem that results in deadheart or whitehead, which hinders the growth of rice grains. Meanwhile, the brown planthopper sucks the sap from the plant and results in hopper burn.
He added that hopper burn can result in the death of the plant, especially in plantations that are rich in nitrogen.
Rice bugs, on the other hand, target rice grains that are nearing harvest, resulting in grain discoloration.
Marquez has urged farmers to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including the synchronized planting of rice by the community, the careful use of nitrogen, and continuous crop rotation. He warned farmers against the excessive use of insecticides, which could cause pesticide resistance and kill insects that are beneficial to rice growth.
PhilRice has urged farmers to coordinate with their local offices and consult with extension workers on pest monitoring and proper management. PhilRice added that the dangers posed by these pests will continue until the third part of the year.