Rice Production in Pidie, Aceh Declines Due to Brown Planthopper Infestation

The gadu rice harvest, or second planting season, has arrived for farmers in Pidie Regency, Aceh Province. However, the joy of this harvest period is overshadowed by a significant decline in grain production compared with the previous season. The decline has been triggered by a brown planthopper infestation that has struck part of the rice fields in the Malacca Strait coastal area over the past month. As a result, rice field productivity in several locations has reportedly plummeted by between 20 and 30 per cent per hectare.

Based on field observations, several locations that have begun the gadu harvest include Peukan Baro and Indrajaya sub-districts. In these areas, the drop in production has been keenly felt by farmers. Data shows that harvest yields, which usually reach 7 to 8 tonnes per hectare, have now fallen to only 5 to 6 tonnes per hectare. This situation has sparked serious concern among local farmers.

“In general, rice fields that have been attacked by planthoppers see their harvest yields plunge by 20 to 30 per cent. This has become a boomerang for farmers, especially for those who rent land belonging to others. It will certainly be difficult to recover the capital that has been spent,” said M. Nasir, a farmer community figure in Peukan Baro Sub-district, on Monday (17/8).

M. Nasir added that the pest attack has not only reduced the quantity of the harvest but also forced farmers to spend extra capital. Additional costs are needed for procuring rice production inputs and for spraying to tackle the pest disturbance. Ironically, despite the increased capital, the results obtained remain suboptimal. Besides the decline in production volume, the quality of the rice produced has also reportedly decreased due to impaired plant health during the growing period.

The pest attacks, which recur every planting season in Aceh, are suspected to be closely linked to the widespread circulation and sale of uncertified or illegal seeds. These seeds generally do not undergo laboratory testing and lack official certification from the government. The use of seeds without distribution permits is considered detrimental to farmers because they are produced by irresponsible parties without clear breeding standards and outside the supervision of relevant agencies.

“It is unclear what illegal brand names are affixed to the packaging of these uncertified seeds. Farmers generally fall victim to advertisements promising abundant yields. In fact, the standard of resistance to pests and diseases has never been tested and they often lack immunity,” said Yusri, an observer of food crop agriculture issues in Pidie Regency.