Nueva Ecija onion farmers reel from army worm attack

By Sheen Crisologo

BONGABON, Nueva Ecija — While the local government has been preparing for the upcoming Onion Festival in April, onion farmers in this town have been reeling from the attack of army worms that have ravaged their crops.

“We spend P80,000 to P100,000 worth of inputs for each hectare of onion farms. We need to save some of our crops” said farmer Danny Returban.

He is just one of more than a thousand farmers in Nueva Ecija who have rued the attack of the army worms that have affected about 22, 389 hectares of onion farms.

Serafin Santos, provincial agriculturist said that he has already discouraged farmers from using too much chemical and pesticides to save their crops from worms.

“Much chemicals in their crop may affect the quality of products that cause them low to rejected output and worst is hazardous to a person’s health” said Santos.

The town of Sto. Domingo has been the worst-hit by the infestation as worms attacked 346.30 hectares, prompting local officials to declare a state of calamity in five barangays.

Bongabon town sustained heavy damage in 98 hectares of onion farms, 139 hectares in Palayan City,  96 hectares in Laur town, 47 hectares in Quezon town, 34 hectares in Talavera town, 25 hectares in Cuyapo town, 10 hectares in the Science City of Muñoz and 6.8 hectares in Aliaga town.