Pests attack paddy in West Lombok<\/p>\n
MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: At least 95 hectares of paddy
\nfields are infested with pests in West Lombok regency, West Nusa
\nTenggara, causing harvest failure and depriving local farmers of
\nan income.<\/p>\n
According to the regency's agricultural and food crops office,
\nthe grayak (a type of grub) started attacking the crops early
\nMay.<\/p>\n
\"The pests eat the stems and leaves of the plant and can
\ndestroy a hectare of crops in just one night,\" Lalu Sukariadi,
\nhead of the office, told The Jakarta Post in Mataram on Monday.<\/p>\n
He said that up to two liters of pesticide per hectare were
\nneeded to eradicate the pest, but the office did not have the
\nnecessary funds.<\/p>\n
The agricultural office also has only a small number of field
\nofficers to assist farmers in pest eradication. \"We have only
\nnine field workers, and six more would be required to cover the
\ndistricts concerned,\" he added.<\/p>\n
West Lombok has around 22,000 hectares of paddy fields with a
\nproduction rate of four to 4.5 tons of rice per hectare. The
\nareas worst hit by the pests are located in three districts. --JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pests-attack-paddy-in-west-lombok-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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