LIGAO CITY, Albay – About a thousand hectares of ricefields in the third district of Albay are unproductive due to rice tungro virus disease.
Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said Saturday that the disease so far affected about 375 hectares in Polangui, 221 in Libon, and 186.5 hectares in Oas, as reported by the different municipal agriculturists.
“It should be controlled the soonest possible time as attack during the reproductive stage,” Salceda said.
Rice tungro disease is caused by the combination of two viruses that are transmitted by leafhoppers. It causes leaf discoloration, stunted growth, reduced tiller numbers, and sterile or partly filled grains. Rice tungro disease infects cultivated rice, some wild rice relatives, and other grassy weeds commonly found in rice paddies.
Salceda said he already asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) through Secretary William Dar to do something in order to prevent the infestation.
“As Chair of Ways and Means, I will help secure the funding just to save the rice granaries of Albay from the infestation,” Salceda said.
In order to hamper the spread of the disease, the DA in Bicol initially provided the farmers in Libon with some 20 liters of insecticide to be sprayed in the affected areas, which could cover 80 hectares.
Agriculture Secretary Dar has assured that the agency will conduct interventions against the infestation.