Villagers treated for poisoning

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: A number of villagers in the districts of Soropia and Sampara were poisoned after consuming a type of cassava, Antara reported Monday.

The report quoted an official who said the victims had all been cured and that no one had been severely affected. It did not say when they were treated for the affliction or how many were affected.

Hundreds of families in seven of the district's villages started consuming the wild species of cassava after experiencing difficulty obtaining rice or corn.

A.L. Tandibali, an employee of the local social welfare office, said five tons of rice had been sent to the seven villages afflicted.

Tandibali said locals were familiar with the cassava but had not processed it correctly. The tubers must be fermented before consumption in a process that requires supervision from the Ministry of Health's food and drugs supervisory body.

Most of the districts' residents fish or farm for a living.

Kendari regent Abdul Razak Porosi told Antara that he did not believe the villagers had resorted to eating the cassava out of necessity.

"We had a rice surplus of 28,000 tons in August," he said. If some people were eating the cassava it was most likely because they were seeking a bit of diversity in their diet.

"We cannot label an area as famine-stricken just because of reports that people are eating cassava," Abdul said.