Farmers In Lebak Banten Forced To Accelerate Harvest Due To Monnyet's Attack

Monkey illustration. (Antaranews)

A number of farmers in Lebak Regency harvest their rice early as a result of the attack by a group of monkey pests. The effort had to be made to prevent crop failure. "The rice harvest should have been carried out in the next two weeks, but was forced early to avoid monkey attacks," said Awi (55) a farmer in the Cidgamil Block, Sajira District, Lebak Regency, Thursday, September 21, was confiscated by Antara. Attacks on the animal pests following the change in dry weather or El Nino, so wild monkeys from the bamboo forest area attacked the community's agricultural land, including rice plants. The monkeyet consumes rice grains that have turned yellow and there are seeds. Farmers in the Cingamil block with 15 hectares of land which are now entering the harvest season of the cere palita rice type had to be harvested early. Nutrite rice, even though planted in rice fields, but the harvest period was six months. "We planted this rice in May 2023," he said.

Likewise, other farmers in Mekar Sari Sajira Village, Lebak Mulyadi Regency (60) admitted to harvesting rice cere palita for fear of crop failure due to monkey pests.

Monkeys can be seen starving because the dry season of trees does not bear fruit. Therefore, a group of monkey populations with hundreds of tails attacked rice plants. "Usually, the monkey attack in the morning or evening with no human condition," said Mulyadi. "We urge the public not to kill monkeys or black heads," he said.