Villagers treated for poisoning<\/p>\n
KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: A number of villagers in the
\ndistricts of Soropia and Sampara were poisoned after consuming a
\ntype of cassava, Antara reported Monday.<\/p>\n
The report quoted an official who said the victims had all
\nbeen cured and that no one had been severely affected. It did not
\nsay when they were treated for the affliction or how many were
\naffected.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of families in seven of the district's villages
\nstarted consuming the wild species of cassava after experiencing
\ndifficulty obtaining rice or corn.<\/p>\n
A.L. Tandibali, an employee of the local social welfare
\noffice, said five tons of rice had been sent to the seven
\nvillages afflicted.<\/p>\n
Tandibali said locals were familiar with the cassava but had
\nnot processed it correctly. The tubers must be fermented before
\nconsumption in a process that requires supervision from the
\nMinistry of Health's food and drugs supervisory body.<\/p>\n
Most of the districts' residents fish or farm for a living.<\/p>\n
Kendari regent Abdul Razak Porosi told Antara that he did not
\nbelieve the villagers had resorted to eating the cassava out of
\nnecessity.<\/p>\n
\"We had a rice surplus of 28,000 tons in August,\" he said. If
\nsome people were eating the cassava it was most likely because
\nthey were seeking a bit of diversity in their diet.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot label an area as famine-stricken just because of
\nreports that people are eating cassava,\" Abdul said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/villagers-treated-for-poisoning-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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