Brown Planthopper Infestation Spreads in Pidie, Farmers Grow Anxious

Some rice farmers during the gadu season (secondary planting season) in Pidie Regency, Aceh Province, are beginning to feel anxious. Reports indicate the brown planthopper infestation is increasingly widespread and scattered across several strategic agricultural locations in the region. Based on observations in Peukan Baro District, this pest, which sucks the fluid from rice leaf sheaths, was initially detected in the Kemukiman Mesjid Baro area. However, over the past three days, the attack has spread to the Kemukiman Pineung area. “Last week it attacked rice fields in Gampong Dayah Bubue, but it turns out over the last three days it has worsened and spread to Gampong Sumboe Buga. Severe attacks have also occurred in Kemukiman Pineung,” said Muhammad Nasir, a community figure in Peukan Baro District, on Monday (3/8). Nasir explained that the most fatal attack occurred in Kemukiman Pineung. The small pest, characteristically known for walking sideways, is capable of destroying a quarter-hectare plot of rice field in just about seven days. “Initially, the brown pest attacked the middle of the field, far from the bunds. Three days later, it spread to several points, wiping out one plot of land,” he added. This pest is known to prefer rice plants aged around 40 days up to near harvest time. Furthermore, its population spreads very rapidly in fields using the same seed variety. Abdullah, a local farmer, mentioned that variety uniformity accelerates transmission. “If the seeds are still one variety, it spreads very quickly and is more severe. Even if the land plots are different, it still spreads fast. Different varieties might be slightly more resistant, but that is not a guarantee,” he explained. There is suspicion that the widespread attack is triggered by the use of unlabelled seeds or seeds without official certification. Seeds marketed without laboratory testing are not guaranteed to be resistant to pests and diseases. This practice of producing uncertified seeds without laboratory testing is allegedly carried out by irresponsible parties who are only pursuing personal profit, thereby harming farmers during the planting season.