THE corn industry is expected to sustain losses of about P20 billion due to the infestation of the fall armyworm (FAW), according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In a virtual forum co-hosted by Bayer Philippines, Inc., the head of the DA’s armyworm Crisis Management Team, Lorenzo M. Caranguian, said the infestation will have a knock-on effect on feed millers, food processors, livestock and poultry raisers, traders, and consumers.
Mr. Caranguian said the lost corn output is estimated at 1.6 million metric tons over a total harvest area of 2.5 million hectares.
“(Between the) November to December planting up to harvest in March to April, most likely FAW will peak,” he said, adding that the harvest would otherwise have been “bountiful” without the infestation.
Mr. Caranguian said the DA has advised farmers to monitor for the pest at its earliest life stages and use trap crops, conduct field inspection to check for feces, eggs, and larvae that indicate the presence of the armyworm, and use pest attractants such as pheromones.
Mr. Caranguian said the DA has allocated P100 million to boost its pest control efforts under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan II), while another P150 million was also put into a quick response fund.
The DA said it has been examining other corn varieties that promise to be resistant against the armyworm.
“The DA will conduct a nationwide corn derby where all corn varieties claiming resistance against FAW will be grown and tested for their pest resistance and yield. It will be multi-locational in order for farmers to see for themselves varieties suitable to them,” Mr. Caranguian said.
According to the DA, the armyworm is present in 57 out of 81 provinces.
Regions that have reported severe crop damage include Cagayan Valley, affecting 5,428 hectares, followed by SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) at 1,703 hectares, and Northern Mindanao 1,191 hectares.
Armyworms were first detected in Piat, Cagayan in March 2019. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
