Politics · Philippines Bureau
Victorias distributes pest-resistant sugarcane variety to local farmers
The Victorias City government in Negros Occidental has rolled out a new sugarcane variety designed to withstand destructive insect damage. The distribution aims to bolster farmer productivity and resilience against the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect.
LSN Philippines ·
BACOLOD CITY — Fifty agrarian reform beneficiaries in Victorias, Negros Occidental received high-quality seedlings of PSR 03-171, a newly promoted sugarcane variety, in a move to strengthen local agricultural output and protect crops from pest infestations.
The PSR 03-171 variety was selected for its dual advantages: high yield potential and demonstrated tolerance to the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI), a major threat to sugarcane cultivation in the region. The seedlings were distributed to farmers in Barangay V on Thursday, providing them with an improved planting material to replace vulnerable crop stocks.
The initiative reflects efforts by the Victorias City government to enhance farmer productivity and income stability through adoption of improved agricultural technologies. Sugarcane remains a significant crop in Negros Occidental, with pest management a persistent challenge for local cultivators.
Officials hope the distribution will encourage wider adoption of the pest-tolerant variety among farming communities across the region, reducing crop losses and improving overall farm profitability in coming seasons.