RSSI hits over 3,000 ha of sugarcane farms in Passi City
Passi City in the Philippines has declared a state of calamity due to a severe infestation of red-striped soft scale insects affecting over 3,300 hectares of sugarcane. The pest outbreak threatens the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and agricultural workers in the region.
Why it matters
The infestation poses a significant economic threat to the local agricultural industry and the food supply chain in the Philippines.
ILOILO CITY, Philippines - More than 3,300 hectares (ha) of sugarcane farms in Passi City have been affected by a growing infestation of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI), threatening the livelihoods of more than 8,000 farmers and agricultural workers.
An initial report by the Passi City Agriculture Office last month placed the affected area at approximately 3,337.85 ha, according to City Council Resolution No. 2026-179.
The infestation has affected about 3,126 farmers and 4,929 agricultural workers and laborers whose livelihoods depend substantially on sugarcane production, the resolution said.
According to the city council, the infestation was increasing weekly and was "progressive in nature," with the affected area continuing to expand. The full extent of the crop damage was still being validated and assessed by the City Agriculture Office.
READ: Sugarcane pest attack widens; Negros worst hit
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