Govt takes serious view of bagworm attack in oil palm areas

KUALA LUMPUR: The government takes a serious view of the bagworm threat that could result in losses of between 33 and 47 per cent of oil palm revenue and affect settlers and smallholders, the the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities said.

It said according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) data, nearly 28,051 hectares of smallholding areas were infested by bagworms nationwide and a serious attack usually would take up to two years to fully recover through an integrated control measure.

“Hence, individual oil palm smallholders, where oil palm production is affected by bagworm infestation, will be assisted by MPOB through the implementation of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM),” the ministry said in a statement yesterday.

It said the IPM involved the biological airborne spray of Bacillus Thruingiensis (BT) bacteria which was harmless to human being, non-targeted insects and the environment.

It said the BT airborne spray is carried out using an airplane and a drone in the oil palm cultivation affected by the pests, it said, adding that the government has approved an allocation of RM12.4 million for smallholders through the MPOB for carry out the IPM.

“The bagworm infestation needs to be addressed immediately through a good farming strategy and the IPM implementation,” it said.