MAMBAJAO, CAMIGUIN, February 29 (PIA) – The Mambajao Municipal Agriculture’s Office (MAO) warns farmers here of lanzones pest infestation and urged them to report cases, especially those related with scale insects.
The scale insect infestation in lanzones trees has been noted by farm owners starting in the late part of year 2014, first spotted in Sitio Ire, Balbagon Mambajao.
“Akong namatikdan nga nga puti-puti ang dahon sa akong lanzones hangtod kini ni daghan og nanga loyloy ug nag anam ka dagdag,” (I observed some white spots on the leaves until it covered everything causing the leaves to eventually die and fall off) farmer Lito Gamale recalled.
MAO describes these as small invasive pests with protective shield like scales, attach itself to a single plant, sometimes in large numbers that it becomes alarming.
The Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) also noted that this pest is difficult to control, eventually rendering the fruit with a sour taste and low yield. Weekly spraying, they say, will not also give positive results as scale insects have a waxy defense mechanism which covers their body during molting of the nymphal stage.
Given this, the municipal LGU initiated effective technical measures available in managing reported infected farms, conducted information and education campaigns in all barangays and introduced organic ameliorants to revive heavily infected lanzones trees.
As part of its intervention, the MLGU gives away free organic and inorganic fertilizers for the growers as air for the recovery of the lanzones trees.
Provincial Agriculture Officer Rene G. Torion, however, noted that there was no major impact of the presence of the pest in the province and that the lanzones harvest remains abundant last year. (JCV/PIA)
