Sugar planters tighten ranks vs farm pests
The Asociacion de Agricultores de La Carlota Y Pontevedra Inc. (AALCPI) and Universal Robina Corp. (URC) have vowed to support the government’s campaign against red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation in Negros.
Both AALCPI and the Gokongwei-led food and beverage company have expressed their readiness to extend financial and technical support to curb the spread of RSSI, affirming that they would collaborate with the Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA) and the existing provincial task force.
AALCPI manager David John Thaddeus Alba said the largest independent planter’s group is prepared to scale up efforts to address the pest infestation in their area.
For its part, URC said it would invest time, money and effort to help farmers navigate the challenges posed by the pest infestation.
“For as long as SRA takes the lead, we in AALCPI, along with our mill partners, are willing to take a unified stand on how best to eradicate, or at best, minimize the effects of RSSI in our mill district,” said Alba, a former SRA administrator.
“If we are assured that SRA is the lead agency, we in AALCPI, our farmers, our mill partners and our MDDC (mill district development councils) will all help and contribute in the effort,” he said.
La Carlota Mill District Development Chair Florencio Alonso highlighted the importance of collaboration between the SRA, farmers, millers and local government units to ensure the effectiveness of anti-RSSI interventions.
Alonso cited the SRA’s efforts and assistance to affected farmers in controlling RSSI in their mill district last year.
