The Regional Field Unit of the Department of Agriculture is monitoring possible pests that may affect crops following the heavy rains experienced for around three weeks in Western Visayas.

DA 6 regional executive director Larry Nacionales said the condition brought by the rains is very conducive to the growth of micro-organisms.

The Regional Crop Protection Center is taking the lead in close coordination with local government units for the conduct of the monitoring to determine what insects are thriving, whether or not they are friendly organisms, Nacionales said.

Most common among the insects are the blieht, steam borer, tungru and rat infestation.

Rat infestation for the second quarter up to end of July affected 2,680 hectares of rice land in Iloilo, although the heavy rain is expected to at least minimize the damages.

Nacionales said the DA 6 has already released chemicals to aid farmers in eliminating rats.

But he emphasized that ensuring the cleanliness of paddy dikes is one way for farmers prevent pests from thriving in rice areas.*PNA

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