Pests attack paddy in West Lombok

Pests attack paddy in West Lombok

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: At least 95 hectares of paddy fields are infested with pests in West Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara, causing harvest failure and depriving local farmers of an income.

According to the regency's agricultural and food crops office, the grayak (a type of grub) started attacking the crops early May.

"The pests eat the stems and leaves of the plant and can destroy a hectare of crops in just one night," Lalu Sukariadi, head of the office, told The Jakarta Post in Mataram on Monday.

He said that up to two liters of pesticide per hectare were needed to eradicate the pest, but the office did not have the necessary funds.

The agricultural office also has only a small number of field officers to assist farmers in pest eradication. "We have only nine field workers, and six more would be required to cover the districts concerned," he added.

West Lombok has around 22,000 hectares of paddy fields with a production rate of four to 4.5 tons of rice per hectare. The areas worst hit by the pests are located in three districts. --JP