More than 10K betel nut trees saved

More than 10,000 betel nut trees have so far been saved from the bud rot disease since the Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Education and Extension Service started injecting the trees with fungicide.

NMC-CREES agricultural consultant Isidoro Cabrera said, though, that the injection of the fungicide Fosphite recently slowed down due to a minor problem with the agency’s technician, who is currently renewing his contract. Other than that, the injection process is still ongoing.

Cabrera said there are still over 20 farmers on the waiting list, waiting for NMC-CREES to visit their plantations to inject the chemicals to treat trees infected by the fungus pytophthora Meadii.

Cabrera said the agency has been very aggressive in stopping the further spread of the disease.

He said NMC-CREES is still injecting the cure to more trees every week. He said more farmers have been cooperating with the agency to salvage what is left of their betel nut farms. NMC-CREES has been doing the rounds across the island to inject Fosphite on the affected trees.

The agricultural consultant said so far the agency has enough supply of the chemicals for several more trees in the next few months.

The agency is charging farmers 15 cents per injection per tree. Cabrera said that local farmers and betel nut growers have no problems with the fee.

Cabrera said they are charging the farmers so that they could sustain the project and to accumulate additional funds when the supply of fungicides run out.

“The fungicide kills the disease on contact and helps boost the plant’s natural defenses against further infection,” said Cabrera, adding that the chemical also serves as a preventive control measure to keep the plants healthy all year long.

Affected betel nut trees since last year include those in Dandan, Rapugao Hill, As Lito, As Mahetog, Capitol Hill, Donne, Kagman, Papago, Tanapag, San Vicente, Mt. Tapochao, and Gualo Rai.

He added that the threat posed by bud rot has been a concern to the Saipan farming community and even the NMC-CREES Advisory Council has openly endorsed the efforts of saving the trees. The council is encouraging all other betel nut growers who have not actively taken part in the fight against the disease to join the project.

Cabrera said the project is in collaboration with the Department of Lands and Natural Resources. He said anyone still interested in this program could contact him through 287-0571.