Rat and Butterfly Pests Attack Hundreds of Hectares of Rice Fields in Karawang

Illustration of rat pests. (ANTARA/Siswowidodo/doc)

KARAWANG - Karawang Regent Cellica Nurrachadiana said that rat and butterfly pests are currently attacking hundreds of hectares of rice fields in a number of areas around Karawang.

"Apart from drought, the current agricultural problem in Karawang is pests, such as rats and white butterflies," said Cellica in Karawang, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, August 5.

To deal with rat pests, the party is currently handling it through the owl house (rubuha) program.

Meanwhile, for the white butterfly, her party admitted that they would coordinate with the Center for Forecasting Plant Pest Organisms (BBPOPT) which has made a number of innovations in handling plant pest organisms (OPT).

"We and the farmers will of course adopt what the farmers hope for eradicating pests," she said.

According to data from the Karawang Agriculture and Food Security Service, as of August 2023, the area of rice plants affected by rat pest attacks has reached 240 hectares, and those threatened are 1,789 hectares.

Then the area of rice plants affected by pest attacks by butterflies or rice stem borers is 315 hectares, and those threatened are 2,626 hectares.

The rice fields affected by OPT or pest attacks are spread across a number of sub-districts around South Karawang, such as Jayakerta Sub-district and others.

According to Cellica, pest control is key in ensuring the success of agricultural crops. Moreover, Karawang is committed to continuing rice productivity with a total of 1.2 million tonnes per year, so pest attacks must be addressed immediately.

Meanwhile, during the long dry season as a result of El Nino, the regent admitted that she had coordinated with the Jatiluhur II Tirta Services Company (PJT) regarding the availability of water for rice fields.

"Thank God, for Karawang PJT ensures that the supply is safe until December with coverage of 97.4 meters above sea level. Even if there is a decrease, the amount is only 1 cm per day, God willing, Karawang will not lack water," she said.

Apart from that, the Karawang Regency Government also continues to maximize the pumping of water from irrigation to rice fields. However, the problem encountered is mud and rubbish sedimentation. She admitted that this was being handled.