Banana plantation in Balik Pulau badly affected due to ‘moko’ disease
GEORGE TOWN: Almost half of the banana planting area in Balik Pulau here is badly affected due to the ‘moko’ disease outbreak.
Kampung Perlis Agriculture Cluster chairman Saidi Md Noor said the moko disease, or wilting disease, which started at the end of last year attacked 10 plantations involving 200 farmers.
“A total 153 hectares or about half of the 367 hectares under banana have been infected by the moko disease,” he told reporters after visiting a banana plantation in Kampung Perlis, Balik Pulau, here, yesterday.
Also present was Pulau Betong State Assemblyman, Muhamad Farid Saad.
Saidi said prompt action to destroy the banana trees infected with moko disease and to treat the affected areas was required to ensure the output of banana in Balik Pulau specifically of the pisang awak variety, was not destroyed.
“Among the species of banana planted by farmers are the pisang raja, abu and rastali varieties with pisang awak being among the major output and the choice of the public,” he said.
Saidi said the moko disease was caused by the bacteria Ralstonia Solanacearum which attacked the whole banana tree and damaged the fruit.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Farid said financial aid from the federal and state governments and the expertise of the Agriculture Department were required to help the farmers tackle the outbreak.
He said the estimated expenditure required to destroy and treat the affected areas was about RM4 million or RM10,000 per hectare with the recovery process taking about three years. — Bernama