Cagayan Valley tillers warned vs insect pests

By Leander C. Domingo

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan -- The Department of Agriculture in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) urged farmers through its Barangay Bantay Peste Brigade to brace for possible insect pests that may infest the region because of unpredictable weather conditions.
    To prepare for this and as a measure to mitigate the effects, the DA Regional Office 2 through its Regional Crop Protection Center (DA-RCPC) has been conducting Bantay Peste Brigade training at the DA-Southern Cagayan Research Center, the most recent in Iguig town in this province.
    Mindaflor Aquino, Agricultural Center chief of the DA-RCPC, said with unpredictable weather conditions, possible insect pests may strike Cagayan Valley at any time.
    "The conduct of our information dissemination activities aims to broaden and enhance the knowledge and skills of agricultural extension workers in terms of corn insect pests and diseases identification and their management," Aquino said.
    The brigade in Iguig town was joined by members of the provincial and municipal agricultural and fishery councils and the DA-Southern Cagayan Research Center technical staff.
    Aquino's team in the brigade was composed of agriculturist Irene Estrella and agricultural technician Jose Mariano.
    They discussed topics on major pests and diseases of corn and their management; introduction to armyworms and their biology and key characteristics; ecology; damage and yield loss assessment; management, production and utilization of biological control agents in Region 2; and demonstration of establishment/setting up of pheromone traps.
    Aquino said the team's experts cited importance of integrated pest management to achieve higher yield and income for corn farmers.
    Earlier, brigades were also sent to Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya provinces composing Cagayan Valley, which includes Cagayan province and the island province of Batanes.