Agriculture
RSSI infestation in Visayas sugarcane farms widens
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Thursday reported that the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation in Visayan sugarcane fields has expandedw to 1,505 hectares, an 11.5 percent increase from 1,350 hectares five days prior. The pest, primarily affecting Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Capiz, and Negros Oriental, is known to slash sugar content by up to 50 percent.
Gov’t accelerates coconut program to regain global lead
The Philippines, under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is ramping up its nationwide coconut replanting program. The country, the Department of Agriculture said, currently trails Indonesia, having lost the distinction as top coconut producer nearly three decades ago.
DA sees agricultural momentum in sugar surge
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing national food self-sufficiency within the next few years, driven in part by surging production figures from the country’s sugar industry—an indicator of broader agricultural momentum that could benefit rice and other staple crops.
Rice prices dip in June, may slow inflation further
The Philippine Statistics Authority's early June survey indicates a continued decline in regular milled rice prices, averaging P42.77 per kilogram—down nearly seventeen percent from P51.31 in the same period last year and slightly lower than May’s P43.64.
Palay, corn output expected to surge Q2—PSA estimate
Palay and corn production are poised for significant growth in the second quarter of 2025, latest estimates by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.
