The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has deployed drones to control the red striped soft scale insect (RSSI), a pest that cuts sugar content by nearly half, in Visayas sugar farms.
On June 11, drones sprayed insecticides over 3.43 hectares in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, covering six farms. The chemicals used—etofenprox and dinotefuran—act both on contact and through plant systems. SRA says this method is faster, more precise, and less damaging to crops than traditional spraying. Good weather and farmer cooperation helped make the operation a success.
As of June 5, RSSI has infested 2,249.48 hectares across 195 barangays, affecting 1,108 farmers. Negros Occidental is hardest hit with over 2,000 hectares infested; major hotspots include Bago City, La Castellana, Cadiz City, and Murcia. Smaller but growing infestations are also seen in Negros Oriental, Iloilo, and Capiz. Monitoring and follow-up actions continue to check results and improve pest management.
Meanwhile, latest price reports show refined sugar sells for ₱75–₱92 per kg, washed sugar ₱65–₱88 per kg, and brown sugar ₱64–₱82 per kg. Raw sugar stood at ₱2,304.05 per 50-kg bag as of May 24, a 1 percent drop from the previous week.
