The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) announced that 233.42 hectares of sugarcane farmland in Luzon were infested by the red-striped soft scale insect this year, an 85.2% decline from last year, as reported by BusinessWorld.
The infestation affected 151 hectares in Batangas, followed by Tarlac (60.42 ha), Camarines Sur (13 ha), and Isabela (9 ha). The significant reduction suggests improved pest management measures in the region.
The SRA continues to monitor the situation to protect sugarcane yields, which are vital to the country's sugar industry. The decline in pest activity could help stabilize production in Luzon, a key growing area.