‘6.5K betel nut trees saved’

More than 6,500 betel nut trees on Saipan have already been saved from the dreaded bud rot disease, according to the Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Education and Extension Service.

NMC-CREES agricultural consultant Isidoro Cabrera said as of last week they have saved the said number of trees from the fungus Pytophthora Meadi through the injection of the fungicide Fosphite.

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.

The agricultural consultant said so far the agency has enough supply of the chemicals that could cure several more trees in the next six months. He said, though, the recovery project for betel nut trees is not actually free of charge.

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

Earlier, Cabrera said the reason for charging the farmers is for the sustenance of the project and for additional funds when supply of fungicides run out.

NMC-CREES has been doing the rounds across the island to inject Fosphite to the affected trees.

“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 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 of treating the trees is in collaboration with the Department of Lands and Natural Resources. He said anyone interested in this program could contact him through tel. no. 287-0571.