More than 1,000 hectares of sugarcane in Nghia Dan are infected with white cotton aphids.

Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy Nga in Tan Tien block, Nghia Dan town, peels and destroys white cotton lint nests to limit the source of outbreak. Photo: Minh Thai

For the family of Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy Nga in Tan Tien block, Nghia Dan town, sugarcane is the main crop that brings income to the family. However, after the recent storm No. 4, there appearedwhite cotton lintThe damage caused to the sugarcane area makes her worried, because if this type of aphid is not carefully controlled, sugarcane productivity will seriously decrease.

Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy Nga said: “After the town announced to actively visit the fields to detect white cotton aphids early, my family checked and found that the field was infected and proceeded to prune old leaves to create conditions for the field to be airy. We removed the infected leaves and destroyed them to limit the source of outbreak and spread. In addition, we sprayed pesticides to prevent it.”

Staff of the Agricultural Service Center of Nghia Dan district instruct people on the most effective way to prevent white cotton aphids. Photo: Minh Thai

After receiving the notice from the District Agriculture Department and the Agricultural Service Center about the white cotton lint disease situation in the area, the People's Committee of Nghia Dan town directed agricultural staff and instructed people to proactively spray pesticides to prevent harmful lint.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thao - Vice Chairman of the Town People's CommitteeNghia Dansaid: At this time, sugarcane is growing very well, but white cotton aphids have appeared in many places with high density. The town People's Committee directed agricultural officers to guide farmers on effective prevention and control, minimizing the spread of aphids and causing serious damage over a large area.

White cotton lint disease on sugarcane appeared in Nghia Dan district after storm No. 4. Photo: Minh Thai

In Nghia Hung commune, there are more than 400 hectares of sugarcane, currently about 40% of the sugarcane area is infected with white cotton fiber aphids. The commune People's Committee has inspected the fields and at the same time, notified people to proactively spray pesticides to minimize the spread of aphids and damage on a large scale.

Ms. Le Thi Vinh's family in Dong Sim hamlet, Nghia Hung commune has more than 1 hectare of sugarcane. After the family weeded and peeled the leaves, they found that the sugarcane was infested with white cotton fiber aphids at a fairly high density. Ms. Le Thi Vinh said: "My family has 1 hectare of sugarcane and recently had aphids. Thanks to the commune and the agricultural extension service, we received instructions on spraying to control aphids. Up to this point, we have sprayed almost the entire area."

This year's sugarcane crop, Nghia Dan district has a total area of ​​over 6,300 hectares. Currently, white cotton aphids have been and are causing damage to an area of ​​over 1,000 hectares, concentrated in the communes of Nghia Hung, Nghia Thanh, Nghia Khanh, Nghia Thinh, Nghia Dan town... The infection rate is at an average density of 7-10% of leaves, high from 15-17% of leaves, locally 30-40% of leaves. It is known that white cotton aphids are a disease that spreads very quickly and affects the development as well as the productivity and output of sugarcane.

Farmers in Nghia Dan district proactively spray to prevent white cotton aphids. Photo: Minh Thai

According to the forecast of the District Department of Agriculture, the coming time with alternating sunny and rainy weather creating high humidity, is a favorable environment for aphids to arise and cause damage and can develop into an epidemic. Therefore, the specialized agency has promptly directed people to take many measures to prevent it.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nam - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture of Nghia Dan district said: "To limit the damage caused by white cotton aphids, farmers need to take some measures such as for fields with low density, need to peel leaves, weed to make it airy; stop nitrogen fertilizing, increase potassium fertilizing; cut out aphid nests to destroy them; and for heavily infected areas, need to spray Cyfitox 300eC, Taron 50eC. When spraying, pay attention to ensure enough amount of water as recommended and spray evenly on the underside of the leaves (where the aphids reside) to ensure high efficiency"./.