Tarakan Agricultural Quarantine Target 15 OPTK Monitoring A Number Of Regions

Tarakan Agricultural Quarantine, North Kalimantan (Kaltara) targets the monitoring of areas spread by 15 quarantine plant-disturbing organisms (OPTK) in the Kaltara region for surveillance.

"This time the OPTK monitoring period is targeted to monitor the area of 15 OPTK which will be the main focus of monitoring. With monitoring areas covering Tarakan, Tanjung Selor, Malinau, Nunukan, Sebatik, Berau, and KTT (Tana Tidung Regency)," said Tarakan Alfian Agricultural Quarantine Head, Antara, Wednesday, March 3.

He said that the 15 OPTKs that became the focus of monitoring targets for Tarakan Quarantine officials, namely Tuta absolutea on tomatoes, Frankliniella occodentalis on chili, Bactrocera occipitalis on fruits, and Phenacoccus manihoti on cassava.

Then Meloidogyne graminimcola on rice, Peronosclerospora philippinensis on corn leaves, Dickeya spp on corn, Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV-P) on papaya, Cadang-Cadang Viroid on palm oil, and Candidatus phytoplasma palmae (lethal yellowing) on palm oil.

Furthermore, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp michiganensis (CMM) on fruits, Paraeicosmetus palmcornis on rice, Raoiella indica on coconut, and Asystasia gangetica on all plants.

The selection of the monitoring target, according to Alfian, was due to tomatoes, chilies, cassava, rice, papaya, palm oil, and coconut as superior agricultural commodities in the Kaltara region that must be maintained so that OPTK could endanger the cultivation of these plants in Kaltara.

Alfian also explained that regional monitoring activities to spread OPTK are carried out regularly every year.

"Because disordered organisms of quarantine plants scattered uncontrollably have a negative impact on the agricultural ecosystem," said Alfian.

In general, OPTK attacks will result in a decrease in the number of quality and quantity of agricultural commodities. Not only that, OPTK is also able to breed and spread to other plants.

"Alhamdulillah, monitoring of the area of spread of OPTK in North Kalimantan has been well organized thanks to the coordination between Tarakan Agricultural Quarantine and related agencies, this activity has been carried out since March 1 yesterday and God willing, it will be completed on March 22, 2023," he said again.

Bambang as the Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency (Kabarantan) always reminds Agricultural Quarantine Officials to work in totality and maintain integrity.

Bambang advised that what is guarded by Agricultural Quarantine Officials throughout Indonesia is the biological natural resources of the Indonesian nation, so that there should be no OPTK that spreads and endangers the potential for Indonesian agriculture and food security.

The monitoring process is not only carried out in the field, to ensure that the OPTK obtained must be followed up through laboratory tests first.

The results of monitoring will be sent to the head office as a report and basis for policy making.