Key sugarcane areas of Nghe An are ravaged by white cotton aphids.

(Baonghean.vn) - Currently, in Nghia Dan district, white cotton fiber aphids that damage sugarcane appear in most localities, with an infected area of ​​over 700 hectares.

According to the investigation results of the Plant Protection Station of Nghia Dan district, white cotton fiber aphids appear with an average density of 3 - 5% of leaves, high from 7 - 10% of leaves, locally in some fields 15 - 17% of leaves; concentrated in communes with large sugarcane areas such as Nghia Phu, Nghia Tho, Nghia Mai, Nghia Duc, Nghia Trung...

Some sugarcane areas in Nghia Dan district are infected with white cotton aphids. Photo: Minh Thai

Ms. Cao Thi Huyen in Hamlet 9, Nghia Trung Commune said that sugarcane is the main source of income for her family. However, recently, the appearance of white cotton fiber aphids has caused her to worry, because if not carefully controlled, sugarcane productivity will seriously decrease.

“My family grows nearly 1 hectare of sugarcane of Roc 10, MI variety. To prevent white cotton aphids and limit their source of origin and spread, I have destroyed aphid nests and sprayed pesticides according to the recommendations of the Plant Protection Station staff,” Ms. Huyen shared.

White cotton aphids appear at an average density of 3 - 5% of leaves, high from 7 - 10% of leaves, locally 15 - 17% of leaves. Photo: Minh Thai

According to Mr. Nguyen Long An - Vice Chairman of Nghia Trung Commune People's Committee, the whole commune has 540 hectares of sugarcane. At this time, sugarcane is growing well, but white cotton fiber aphids have appeared, many areas have high infection density.Currently, the whole commune has 45 hectares infected with the disease. The commune is coordinating with the Plant Protection Station to provide medicine and instruct people on effective prevention and control, minimizing the spread of aphids and causing serious damage over a large area.

Nghia Dan has more than 7,500 hectares of sugarcane, at this time, the raw material areas are in the period of spreading, growing and developing well. According to the forecast of the Plant Protection Station, in the coming time, the weather will be hot and rainy, so the humidity will be high, creating a favorable environment for aphids to thrive, which can develop into an epidemic.

White cotton aphids cause great damage to sugar content, reduce sugarcane yield, and also affect germination rate for the following crop.

Farmers in Nghia Dan district spray pesticides to prevent white cotton fiber aphids from harming sugarcane. Photo: Minh Thai

Mr. Nguyen Viet Trung - Head of the Plant Cultivation and Plant Protection Station of Nghia Dan district added:"To limit the damage caused by white cotton aphids, farmers need to take some measures: For fields with low density, remove leaves, weed to make the fields airy; stop nitrogen fertilizing, increase potassium fertilizing; cut out aphid nests to destroy them. For heavily infected areas, spray Victory 300EC, Anboom 40EC."

Minh Thai