Pests destroy cocoa plantations

Pests destroy cocoa plantations

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: At least 142 out of 240 hectares of
cocoa plantations in South Sulawesi have been ravaged by larval
attacks, which destroyed the cocoa beans and inflicted between Rp
750 billion and Rp 700 billion in financial losses to farmers.

"This was the biggest pest attack that ever occurred here
judging from the farmers' huge losses. The pests, which first
appeared in the province in 1995, destroy the beans." assistant
director of the local plantation Karya Yunus said here on
Thursday.

Citing data from the province's Plant Protection Office, Yunus
said that almost 70 percent of cocoa plantations in the province
had been devastated, leaving only about 98,000 hectares of the
plantations safe from attack.

The worst-hit area was North Luwu regency, where cocoa
production had fallen to 28 thousand tons, he said.

The head of the regency plant protection office, Burhanuddin
Sabar, said his office had given advice to farmers on how to
fight the infestation, including safe and effective ways of
controlling the pests, which appeared to have a high level of
resistance to insecticide.--JP