The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines has reported a significant army worm infestation impacting onion plantations across the country. As of 30 April, the Bureau of Plant Industry's report highlighted that 12,138 hectares of onion farms have been affected, with approximately 674 hectares completely destroyed.
The regions hit include the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Mimaropa, with Central Luzon experiencing the most severe damage, amounting to 6,980 hectares of cultivated land. Despite these figures, the DA noted that interventions have been put in place, such as pest management activities involving the provision of technical assistance, pheromone lures, biological control agents, biopesticides, and synthetic pesticides, all in coordination with local government units to safeguard farmers' productivity. The latest market data from the DA indicates that the retail price for local red onions in Metro Manila ranges between P70 to P140 per kilo, local white onions are priced from P60 to P130 per kilo, and imported white onions are at P100 per kilo.
[ P10 = €0.16 ]
Source: tribune.net.ph