November 5, 2025
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/11/05/insect-attacks-more-sugarcane-areas-sra/
Areas struck by the red-striped soft-scale insects (RSSI) expanded to over 7,400 hectares as of October 24, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).
Based on the latest SRA data, 7,449 hectares have been infested with RSSI, from the initial 87 hectares recorded on May 22, when it was declared an infestation.
Of which, 7,386 hectares were standing canes, while 62 hectares were harvested canes, where production data would be recorded.
It has also affected 4,106 farmers since its detection in Negros, which makes up over 60 percent of the country’s sugar output.
Broken down, Visayas posted the largest infestation, with 5,826 hectares affected by the plant disease. This was followed by Luzon with 1,539 hectares and Mindanao with 83 hectares.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona told the BusinessMirror that RSSI could slash the sugar content of infected canes in Negros by as much as 50 percent, citing the agency’s findings.
He said this could temper the agency’s outlook for raw sugar production in crop year 2025-2026, which started on October 1. The impact, however, may be minimal.
“Those sugarcanes whose infestation was not that severe, the minimum drop in yield was 20 percent,” Azcona said. “But those with severe infestation in the north of Negros, specifically in the Silay area, the drop in yield reached 50 percent.”
While the impact of RSSI on sugar content was the easiest to monitor, Azcona warned that the insect could potentially affect the growth if canes.
“In the North, they said canes that were infected at their early stage didn’t seem to grow. So, maybe there’s also an effect on tonnage.”
The SRA said raw sugar output in the current crop year could fall by nearly 8 percent to 1.92 million metric tons (MMT) from the previous crop year’s 2.085 MMT.
However, the agency noted that the initial forecast may be adjusted downward owing to the potential impact of RSSI infestation on yield.
“It’s an estimate based on the heavy rainfall experienced in the north of Negros, and [there] might be a small drop considering the presence of RSSI,” Azcona said.
Under Sugar Order 1, the raw sugar allocation for the new crop year would be classified as “B,” which means all sugar produced until September 30 next year will be sold for domestic consumption.
Figures from the SRA showed that the country’s raw sugar output settled at 2.085 MMT in crop year 2024-2025.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) noted that since 2022, the sugar industry has seen a steady expansion in planted areas–from 380,000 hectares to 409,000 hectares this year.
Last month, the DA said the government would not allow sugar imports until the second quarter of 2026 due to concerns over the decline in the farmgate prices of the sweetener.