Funds to combat bud rot released

Saipan farmers whose betel nut farms are threatened by the dreaded bud rot disease may now rejoice following the release of the funds to buy chemicals that will stop the spread of the fungi.

Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service agriculture consultant Isidoro Cabrera said the Department of Finance released on Monday $10,000 for the acquisition of chemicals Fosphite and Kocide 45LF, which will be used to combat bud rot or Phytophthora Meadii.

“It was a great news to us since the feared rainy season is now here,” Cabrera said.

Cabrera said he has already made some purchase orders for Fosphite even before the release of the funding, asking for $5,000 worth of Fosphite from Guam. He said he would soon send purchase orders for Kocide 45LF.

Cabrera said as soon as the chemicals arrive from Guam, NMC-CREES would immediately begin its treatment of infected betel nut trees. He said they have to act fast since the onset of the rainy season would make it harder for them to quell the fungi.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta signed into law House Local Bill 14-48 last March, appropriating $600,000 from the Managaha Island Land User Free Trust account for the renovation and construction of the Old Garapan Head Start. The law included an allocation of $10,000 to “defray the cost of the indigenous farmers and fishermen who suffered during typhoons Tingting and Chaba, and also for betel nut palm pest Phytophthora.”

Former NMC-CREES acting director Anthony Benavente received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency number from the agency’s Washington, D.C. office in May, paving way for the purchase of fungicides. Benavente immediately asked Cabrera to canvass the required chemicals.

Cabrera said the disease has now spread to several farmlands, but he has not seen any huge spread of the disease lately. The disease is currently ailing thousand of betel nut trees on Saipan and could threaten Tinian and Rota farms as well, if infected plants or nuts are introduced to the two islands.

Affected betel nut trees are in Dandan, Rapugao Hill, As Lito, As Mahetog, Capitol Hill, Donne, Kagman, Papago, Tanapag, San Vicente, and Mt. Tapochao. Betel nut trees in Gualo Rai, Cabrera said, are also now infected with the fungi.

With the availability and purchase of the fungicides, the farmers could now be assured that help is indeed on the way, said Cabrera.

Benavente earlier said that there is a possibility the purchase of the chemicals could be stopped, as the EPA would still have to review their application within 90 days, which would end a month from now.

If given final approval, the application permit submitted would allow NMC-CREES to purchase and use the chemicals for five years, starting April 15, 2005 until April 14, 2010. When the permit expires, the college will have to apply for an extension or re-issuance of the permit.