Disease under control: Official

By JIMMY KALEBE
THE cocoa pod borer that has been affecting plantations in Sialum and Wasu in Tewai-Siassi, Morobe, is now under control, says a PNG Cocoa Board (PNGCB) official.
Regional coordinator Anton Ningi said the two areas had been seriously affected by the cocoa pod borer (CPB) in 2015-2016 but the situation was improving.
“We have advised farmers to put in place good practices to minimise the borer from taking a toll on those plantations,” Ningi said.
Ningi said CPB was the only pest that was affecting production of cocoa in the province and that had been addressed by PNGCB officials to control it. He said there had been recorded areas in Markham that been affected by CPB.
“That is why we now emphasised more on the prevention side of it and that goes back to the plot owners,” Ningi said.
He said the practices they applied to the cocoa blocks would help to minimise the attack by CPB.
Ningi also pointed out that Siassi Island also came inder attack by CPB but was brought under control in 2008 when a memorandum of agreement was signed between PNGCB and the Tewai-Siassi district.
He said from then on some affected trees were burnt to control the pest and last year production from the island came accept for Wasu.