The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has warned farmers on viruses that may affect their farm during the rainy season.
The most disastrous virus is the Tungro virus carried by an insect called the green leafhopper. The unhusked rice (palay) turns yellow, decreases in size, and its growth gets stunted once attacked by the virus.
The farmer is expected to harvest 1 ton of unhusked rice from 6 tons due to the Tungro virus.
PhilRice has also warned about the Rice Grassy Stunt virus where the unhusked rice turns dry and does not grow properly. This virus lowers the yields of a farmer to 80 percent. Only applying recommended insecticide, pulling out weeds, and right cultivation are the ways to stop the said viruses.
PhilRice has received reports on the virus from Isabela, Iloilo, and North Cotabato.
PhilRice strictly reminds the farmers to observe their farms and keep them clean. It is also urging farmers to report incidents of the virus to immediately address the problem. The institute is also giving free virus-resistant unhusked rice that can be planted by farmers.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has estimated that the unhusked rice production will reach over 1 million tons during the main harvest season.
Report from Cleizl Pardilla
