CARRASCAL, Surigao del Sur -- The personnel of Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC)  conducted a field monitoring and surveillance of Fall Armyworm (FAW) infestation in farm-corn areas of Barangay Bacolod and Tag-anito on August 3, 2022.

FAW is a highly migratory pest known to infest corn fields in Caraga region nowadays, as it can travel at 100 kilometers per night across the strong winds and prefers to eat maize specifically, the hybrid and open-pollinated varieties.

The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of the  Local Government Unit of Carrascal, through the Corn sector, seeks assistance from RCPC since  there are reports from the farmers about the rapid infestation of FAW in the corn areas of the municipality.

The LGU-Carrascal and the corn sector are glad as the RCPC immediately responded with their call and deployed their personnel namely: Maricel Didal, Arlyn Cabalinan, Flora Galanida, Ryan Mark Curada and John Mark Improso.

The team immediately conducted intensive monitoring and surveillance earlier today. Based on the report, RCPC provided the control measures in containing the pest-occurrence in the said farm-corn areas.

Insecticides and biocontrol agents were also given to the farm owners with guided technical advice required to control infestation and spread of FAW. (FITS Center, Carrascal/PIA Surigao del Sur)