REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUNINGAN -- Tens of hectares of paddy fields in Kuningan Regency are attacked by pests or crop disturbing organisms (OPT). Hundreds of other hectares are threatened by OPT attacks, so control efforts are needed.

The head of the Food Security and Agriculture Department of Kuningan Regency, Wahyu Hidayah said, in the period 1-15 April 2024, the area of rice crops in Kuningan Regency reached 20,867 hectares. “The lifespan of paddy crops varies, ranging from one day after planting (HST) to harvest. The dominant age is 20-100 HST,” Wahyu said, Friday (26/4/2024).

Wahyu said, based on the POPT report, OPT attacks of the main rice crops found in Kuningan Regency include rice stem borer, with an increased attack area (LTS) of three hectares of light category, an attack area of 25 hectares of mild category, there is a threatened/alert area of 204 hectares and a control area of 31 hectares.

In addition, rats attack, with a residual attack area of four hectares. The other OPT is bacterial leaf blight, with an LTS of 11 hectares, an infestation area of 34 hectares of mild category, a threatened/alert area of 153 hectares and a control area of four hectares.

As for the blas pests, with an LTS of four hectares of mild category, an area of attack of 36 hectares of mild category, an area of threatened/alert 327 hectares and a control area of 32 hectares. “Brown foliage is also an OPT to watch out for, with an LTS of one hectare, an attack area of one hectare of mild category, a threatened/alert area of 44 hectares and a control area of one hectare,” Wahyu said.

Next, there is OPT Tungro, with an attack area of five hectares of mild category, a threatened/alert area of 35 hectares and a control area of six hectares.

The Food Security and Agriculture Department of Kuningan Regency also organized the Control Movement (Gerdal) OPT in Sangkanmulya Village, Cigandamekar District. This was done as one of the efforts to secure rice production in 2024 in Kuningan Regency.

“We are doing our best. And of course Gerdal OPT we do by applying technology that is guided by the principle of Integrated Pest Control (PHT). Namely, the promotion of healthy crops, the preservation and management of natural enemies, weekly observations and farmers with the ability to carry out and PHT experts,” Wahyu said.

The revelation also appealed to farmers to continue to work on Gerdal OPT. Without effective Gerdal OPT, it can lead to a decrease in crop productivity even puso (crop failure),” Wahyu said.

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