JABAR EKSPRES – Extension workers of the Food Crops, Horticulture, and Plantation Agency along with farmers have massively controlled brown planthoppers in a number of agricultural areas in Jember Regency, East Java.
“Extension workers together with farmers have carried out mass control of plant pest organisms (OPT) on rice plants in several locations including in Seputih Village, Mayang Subdistrict,” said Head of the Food Crops, Horticulture, and Plantation Office of Jember Imam Sudarmaji in Jember, Sunday.
Based on the data, he continued, the activity was carried out on rice of the Inpari 32 variety aged 32 days after planting in the Sumber Karya Farmer Group in Seputih Village.
“The pest that attacks is stem borer with an attack area of approximately 0.5 hectares, then the control area is 3 hectares, and there is a pest attack intensity of 18 percent,” he said.
He said the Sumber Karya Farmer Group’s rice field was approximately 30 hectares, so spraying or control using insecticides was carried out.
“The farmers were very enthusiastic in carrying out pest control and many farmers were observed joining in the spraying activity,” he said.
In the Silo Coordinator area, which includes Ledokombo, Mayang, and Silo sub-districts, there are frequent attacks of leafhoppers in the form of stem borers on rice plants.
“The leafhopper is a pest characterized by rapid reproduction and is able to use food sources well before another attack occurs,” he said.
In addition, he continued, advanced attacks are able to determine new habitats quickly before the old habitat is no longer useful, so massive control is needed to prevent crop failure that can harm farmers.
“We hope that all infested rice plants can be saved, so that farmers can still harvest. Pest control is not only done when planting rice, but also other crops such as corn,” he said.
Farmer groups are also expected to be more massive in providing information related to the health of their plants, so that it can be resolved immediately without having to experience crop failure due to the attack.
