‘Ulmog’ (Brown Planthoppers) spotted in Cagayan Valley; Over 100 hectares affected across FOUR provinces

Cagayan, Philippines – Aside from the recent drop in palay (unmilled rice) buying prices, another threat to the livelihood of farmers in Cagayan Valley has emerged — the detection of brown planthoppers, locally known as ulmog, which have already affected more than 100 hectares of rice fields in the region.

The Department of Agriculture - Regional Crop Protection Center (DA-RCPC 2) reported on October 22 that brown planthoppers were detected in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino, sparing only Batanes from infestation.

As of that date, the agency recorded a total of 114.97 hectares of rice fields affected across the four provinces.

The pest feeds on the sap or watery fluid of rice plants, weakening the stems and causing them to dry up — a condition known as hopper burn. The brown planthopper can attack rice at any stage of growth and may cause significant yield losses if not immediately controlled.

If left unchecked, these tiny but destructive insects can destroy 50 to 100 percent of palay crops. Their population can increase rapidly, as each female can lay up to 200 eggs per cycle. The typical life cycle of a brown planthopper lasts about 25 to 35 days, depending on temperature and environmental conditions.

As an initial response, the DA said it has already implemented control measures and is urging affected farmers to regularly inspect their rice fields and apply recommended anti-ulmog pesticides.

The agency also encouraged farmers to coordinate with their respective Municipal or City Agriculture Offices for technical guidance and support on pest management.

“Ugaliing laging bisitahin ang ating mga pananim. Hawiin ang mga suwi ng mga palay upang mamonitor ang pagdami ng ulmog. Kung may presensya na ng limang (5) ulmog kada puno, maaaring mag-spray ng mga rekomendadong pestisidyo para sa agarang pagkontrol ng mga ito. Maaaring makipag-ugnayan sa inyong City Agricultural Office (CAO) o Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO) kung may presensya na sa inyong mga sakahan ng Brown Planthopper ulmog o iba pang peste at sakit sa ating palayan,” the agency advised.

In 2010, the Philippines experienced localized but significant brown planthopper outbreaks, affecting thousands of hectares of rice fields in several provinces. In 2017, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) reported that the pest had reappeared in 18 provinces, leaving many farmers anxious over potential yield losses.