Pest plagues coconut plantations

TERNATE, Maluku: Coconut farmers are on the alert after an outbreak of the sexava pest destroyed acres of plantations in Halmahera during the past five months.

North Maluku Regent Abdullah Assagaf said here Saturday that the outbreak began in October of last year and had continued through March.

"In March, 9,755 of 109,223 hectares of coconut plantations were destroyed by the pest, causing coconut production to drop drastically," Assagaf was quoted by Antara as saying.

Research indicates that sexava has spread to 21 districts, with Jailolo Sahu, Pulau Bacan, Sanana, Obi and Ibu hardest hit.

"Fumigation and clearing of the plantation site must be conducted to stop the spread of the pest," Assagaf said.

The regency has set aside around Rp 150 million from the Presidential Instruction (Inpres) fund to eradicate the pest, Assagaf said. (sur)