Negros Occidental bolsters pest control with additional biologists

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental's provincial government has recruited six additional biologists to intensify the battle against red-stripe soft scale insects (RSSI), a major pest threatening the province's sugarcane production. The move aims to accelerate the development and manufacturing of beneficial insects that can naturally suppress RSSI populations across affected plantations.

Three of the newly hired biologists will be stationed at an insectary facility dedicated to breeding and cultivating the predatory organisms needed for biological pest control. The remaining three will support related research and implementation efforts across the province's sugarcane-growing regions.

The red-stripe soft scale insect has emerged as a significant threat to Negros Occidental's sugarcane sector, one of the region's most important agricultural commodities. By leveraging biological control methods rather than chemical pesticides, the provincial government seeks to address the infestation while minimizing environmental impact and protecting the long-term health of sugarcane operations.

The provincial administration's expansion of its pest management team underscores the growing urgency of the RSSI problem and the commitment to deploy science-based solutions to protect local farmers' livelihoods and preserve the competitiveness of the region's sugar industry.