Cocoa disease in Sumatra

JAKARTA (JP): At least 3,000 of the 13,000 hectares of cacao estates in North Sumatra have suffered from pest attacks damaging cocoa beans, an official said yesterday.

Zulkarnaen, an expert from the Agency for Agricultural Technology Assessment in Medan, was quoted by Antara as saying the pest, a type of insect or moth, attacked cocoa beans leaving a one-millimeter hole, giving it a darker color of whitish yellow and smaller beans.

The worst effect was the beans becoming inseparable from their skin, making the use of the beans impossible.

The pests attacked young and mature cacao trees, but inflicted more damage on young fruit, he said.

Zulkarnaen said the government should prevent the spread of the problem by banning the movement of cocoa beans from affected areas.

Cocoa is one of North Sumatra's biggest export commodities.

The Ministry of Agriculture estimates there were 598,000 hectares of cocoa plantations last year which produced an estimated 274,000 tons. (jsk)