Fungicides for betel nut trees get EPA go-signal

Good news to Saipan farmers! The Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service may now buy the needed fungicides to prevent the further spread of the bud rot disease that is killing off the island’s betel nut tree population.

NMC-CREES director Anthony Benavente said his office finally received the Environmental Protection Agency number from the agency’s Washington, D.C. office last Wednesday, paving the way for the purchase of fungicides Kocide 45 LF and Fosphite to combat the disease, caused by the fungi Phytophthora meadii.

Benavente immediately asked NMC-CREES agricultural consultant Isidoro Cabrera to canvas the required fungicide.

Cabrera said he is now working on identifying where to acquire the pesticides but said he is also following up with the Department of Finance about the release of the $10,000 in approved funds for the purchase of the chemicals.

Bud rot 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.

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

He, however, said there is a possibility the purchase could be stopped, as the EPA would still have to review their application within 90 days.

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.

Under the permit, the CNMI is allowed to purchase Fosphite, which contains mono and dipotassium salts of phosphorus acid, and Kocide 4.5 LF, which contains the active ingredient copper hydroxide.

Cabrera earlier said it is necessary to obtain the EPA’s approval as the use of these pesticides against the killer fungi is not included on the list of their official uses.

So far the bud rot disease has affected betel nut trees in Dandan, Rapugao Hill, As Lito, As Mahetog, Capitol Hill, Donne, Kagman, Papago, Tanapag, San Vicente, and Mt. Tapochao.

Earlier reports said betel nut growers on Saipan have lost an estimated $2.25 million, with 30 percent of about 100,000 betel nut trees on the island dying from the bud rot disease.

Cabrera said the government would also stand to lose 4 percent, or $90,000 of its gross revenue, from the farmers if the problem persists.

He said there are over 100,000 betel nut trees on Saipan alone. Rota has 15,000 and Tinian about 10,000.