15 Oct 2006
Northern Luzon: A dreadful virus has spread to hundreds of rice fields in northern Luzon, including the variety of rice that is being sown in the terraced mountains of the Cordillera region, officials said.
Eight of the 11 towns and nearly 2,000 hectares of rice plantations in Ifugao province in the north were severely affected by tungro virus, according to a report released by the departments of agriculture and environment
About 6,000 metric tonnes of rice production valued at about 49 million pesos ($980,000) were already destroyed by the virus, said government agriculturist Avelino Lunag who confirmed the report of the two government agencies which was released late September.
Almost 560 hectares of rice plantation in several villages in Tabuk, acknowledged as Cordillera region's rice bowl, have been affected by the calamity.
Damage to 68 per cent of rice production in the northern Cordillera is fatal to the country's economy, said officials of the agriculture department in Kalinga.
No cure
The tungro-affected rice fields bore rice grains with yellow leaves and stunted stems. "Tungro," spread by green leaf hoppers, has no cure.
In Kalinga, rice plants are still recovering from a bacteria-based leaf blight in July.
In both provinces, the number of tungro-affected rice fields is expected to rise further, officials said.
Farmers called for financial assistance from local government leaders.
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
