Traps are being put up to contain the reproduction of armyworms in Barangay Macabaclay. Contributed photo
BONGABON, Nueva Ecija – Onion crops in at least two villages in this municipality, dubbed as the “Onion basket of the Philippines,” already affected by inclement weather are yet threatened by pests.
Mayor Allan Xystus Gamilla on Wednesday ordered agricultural technicians to look into reports that “harabas” (armyworm) and anthracnose have destroyed onions in Barangay Ariendo even as officials were already in field with farmers fighting the pests in Barangay Macabaclay.
Gamilla said technicians from the municipal agriculture office and farmers are creating sex pheromone lure (spodeptera exigua) trap against armyworms in Macabaclay.
It was a formula in plastic bottles to lure male butterflies, taking them away from female ones to prevent reproduction.
“Inaakit po nito yung mga paru-paro na lalaki para po hindi makarating dun sa mga paru-parung babae at nang hindi po makapangitlog ito ng mga harabas,” Gamilla said.
Aside from the pests, the typhoons and occasional rains in the later part of 2020 have destroyed the crops, one of the major sources of livelihood of residents here.
Danny Yambot, 52, already spent almost P100,000 for his 9,000–square meter onion farm but opted to plant squash instead of putting up additional capital to his “hopeless crops.”
“Kakaunti naman na po yung natitira e di ano pa hihintayin mo? Papatabaan mo yan, ispreyan (aplly pesticide) ay wala na rin,” he said.
Yambot and fellow farmers in Barangay Ariendo planted onions in mid-November, earlier than the traditional planting season, in an attempt to get away from armyworms that have been affecting their production for the past several years.
“Inagahan ng konti pero eto ang nangyari, naulan tapos na-harabas pa rin,” he stressed.
Unfavorable weather, including typhoons Quinta, Pepito and Ulysses and pests have damaged some 113 hectares of 1,150 hectares of onions, Gamilla said.
Some 30 metric tons of bulbs were already harvested by off-season planters.
The local government, the mayor said, is working with farmers to contain the pests.
