Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company: Sticking with farmers to prevent sugarcane pests and diseases

50% of the area infected with white cotton lint

Currently, sugarcane is in the stage of growing shoots and accumulating sugar. Photo: Thanh Phuc

At this time,sugarcane raw material areaIn Tan Long (Tan Ky), sugarcane is in the stage of growing shoots. The green, healthy sugarcane fields with plump stalks promise a bumper crop. However, the rainy weather and little sunshine have caused many sugarcane areas to be infected with white cotton aphids. White cotton aphids, scientifically known as Ceratovacuna lanigera, are a dangerous pest that not only affects the growth and development of sugarcane but also has a negative impact on sugar yield and quality.

According to Mr. Nguyen Sy Hai - Head of Raw Material Production Department, Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company, there are two types of aphids: winged and wingless. Although winged aphids only account for a small proportion of the aphid population, they are no less harmful than wingless aphids because they can move and spread from one field to another, from the previous crop to the next. The impact of this aphid species on sugarcane yield and quality is most evident when they develop into an epidemic, in warm, humid conditions, when sugarcane is growing strongly and in the process of accumulating sugar, especially in shady sugarcane fields lacking light.

Heavy rain and little sunshine have caused many sugarcane areas to be infected with white cotton aphids. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Aphids live in concentration on the back of sugarcane leaves, along the leaf veins to suck the sap of the plant, directly affecting the growth of sugarcane. On the other hand, the secretions of aphids are a good environment for sooty mold to develop on the leaves and stems of sugarcane, affecting the photosynthesis of the plant, causing the sugarcane to grow poorly, stunted, reducing productivity and sugar content. If severely damaged, the sugarcane tops cannot be used as seeds, losing the ability to germinate, and the roots cannot sprout, greatly affecting the density of the sugarcane crop.

When the weather becomes more suitable for winged aphids to migrate from one place to another, the aphid population will develop strongly in the middle and end of the sugarcane season, the possibility of spreading from large sugarcane fields to small sugarcane fields with new shoots is very high. Therefore, at this time, people must regularly check sugarcane fields, promptly detect and thoroughly handle aphid nests.

White cotton lint disease is very dangerous. If not prevented in time, it will not only affect the quality of sugarcane and the price of sugarcane, but also negatively impact the area of ​​sugarcane left untouched, causing damage to the following crops. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to statistics, up to now, there have been over 2,000/4,500 hectares of raw sugarcane ofSong Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Companyare infected with white cotton aphids at different levels and appear sporadically in growing areas. “This year, the weather is erratic, with earlier and more frequent rains than previous years. Little sunshine, lots of rain, but the hot climate is an ideal condition for white cotton aphids to break out on sugarcane. In fact, this year, aphids appear early and spread faster than previous years. If not prevented in time, it will not only affect the quality of sugarcane and the price of sugarcane, but also have a negative impact on the area of ​​sugarcane left at the base, causing damage to the following crops…”, said Mr. Nguyen Sy Hai.

Agricultural staff stay with the people in the fields

These days, people in sugarcane growing areas are taking care of their sugarcane: clearing sugarcane leaves, spraying pesticides, and destroying diseased sugarcane leaves. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Identify pestswhite cotton budcausing great damage to the sugar industry and people's income, so from the beginning of the season, the leaders of Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company have proactively taken measures to prevent the disease. Accordingly, the company has signed a contract with partners to prepare 5 planes to spray white cotton aphids at a stable price of 2.2 million/ha (including spraying costs and aphid pesticides, ensuring that aphids die at over 95%). If people do not have this amount, the company will support interest-free loans and collect it after harvesting the sugarcane.

At the same time, 17 agricultural officers were assigned to regularly monitor the fields and inspect each field to promptly detect diseased areas; management software was used to send text messages to notify growers about aphid density, damage level, diseased areas, and zoning of diseased plots and beds.

The company has signed contracts with partners to prepare 5 planes to spray white cotton lint insecticide at a stable price of 2.2 million/ha. Photo: Thanh Phuc

On the other hand, coordinate with local authorities to promote propaganda on preventing white cotton fiber aphids on sugarcane to the people. Mr. Chu Van Hung, agricultural officer of the raw material area of ​​Tan Long, Tan Phu, Nghia Hoan (Tan Ky) said: "This is the most difficult time for farmers. Every day, we stick to the fields, check the fields, and when we discover sugarcane infected with aphids, we immediately notify the people, update the company's system and immediately implement preventive measures."

Thanks to participating in training courses with the support of the company and agricultural officers, people in sugarcane growing areas are well aware of the need to prevent white cotton linters. These days, people in sugarcane growing areas are taking care of their sugarcane: cleaning sugarcane leaves, spraying pesticides and destroying diseased sugarcane leaves.

The epidemic situation is updated daily on the company's raw sugarcane management software. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Tran Van Kieu, the owner of a sugarcane farm in Tan Long (Tan Ky) said: “With a large area of ​​sugarcane, we have to hire people to strip the leaves to keep the sugarcane fields airy and reduce harmful aphids. At the same time, we want the sugarcane to receive light, reach height, internode diameter and high sugar content. Only when the sugarcane is of guaranteed quality will the factory buy it at a high price, and we will make a profit.”

This is also the stage when sugarcane begins to accumulate sugar, so farmers also supplement timely and adequate nutrition for sugarcane. In addition to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, potassium is also added to make sugarcane stronger and less likely to break when the rainy and stormy season comes.

Agricultural staff and workers stay in the fields with people to take care of sugarcane. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Thanh Phuc