Pests destroy cocoa plantations<\/p>\n
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: At least 142 out of 240 hectares of
\ncocoa plantations in South Sulawesi have been ravaged by larval
\nattacks, which destroyed the cocoa beans and inflicted between Rp
\n750 billion and Rp 700 billion in financial losses to farmers.<\/p>\n
\"This was the biggest pest attack that ever occurred here
\njudging from the farmers' huge losses. The pests, which first
\nappeared in the province in 1995, destroy the beans.\" assistant
\ndirector of the local plantation Karya Yunus said here on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Citing data from the province's Plant Protection Office, Yunus
\nsaid that almost 70 percent of cocoa plantations in the province
\nhad been devastated, leaving only about 98,000 hectares of the
\nplantations safe from attack.<\/p>\n
The worst-hit area was North Luwu regency, where cocoa
\nproduction had fallen to 28 thousand tons, he said.<\/p>\n
The head of the regency plant protection office, Burhanuddin
\nSabar, said his office had given advice to farmers on how to
\nfight the infestation, including safe and effective ways of
\ncontrolling the pests, which appeared to have a high level of
\nresistance to insecticide.--JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pests-destroy-cocoa-plantations-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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