Cocoa Pest and Disease Workshop Indonesia

Makassar, November 26, 2019—The Cocoa Pest and Disease Workshop is accordingly to one of discussions among The International Permanent Working Group for Cocoa Pests and Diseases (INCOPED) in 2017 in Lima, Peru, particularly the apprehension of the stakeholders in the cocoa producing countries regarding the inter-region cocoa pests and diseases distribution and the possibility of new pests and diseases encounters. The identification of cocoa pests and diseases is significant to be understood by the pests and diseases monitors rapidly. This workshop is aimed to introduce the new pests and diseases which have not encountered by the farmers in Indonesia, to refresh the best management practices in controlling the existing pests and diseases, some issues that are experienced by the farmers in the field.

 

The workshop itself was conducted on November 26, 2019 at Swiss-bel Hotel in Makassar. The targeted participants were cocoa pests and diseases monitoring staffs, researchers, and academicians who were actively engaged into cocoa pests and diseases issues. The workshop was attended by 42 participants and 2 speakers. The participants were the representatives of Plantation Office in 9 districts of South Sulawesi Province, Hasanuddin University, Indonesian Muslim University, Readsi, Refreshment and Industrial Plantation Research Station, Olam, Barry Callebaut, Swisscontact Makassar, Cocoa Sustainability Partnership, Mondelēz Indonesia, and Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute.

 

This event was the joint participation of Mondelēz Indonesia-Cocoa Life, CABI, and Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute and opened by Mrs. Andi Sitti Asmayanti, Head of Southeast Asia Mondelēz-Cocoa Life. The first speaker was Dr. Jayne Crozier of CABI Trade and Commodities Coordinator, UK, and the second one was Ir. Endang Sulistyowati, MP., of Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute and Vice Chairman of INCOPED Asia.

Dr. Jayne Crozier dari CABI Trade and Commodities Coordinator UK presents the Threat of Pest and Disease towards Cocoa Production in Indonesia. (Mondelēz-Cocoa Life)

 

During the first session, Dr. Jayne Crozier explained the threat of pest and diseases to the cocoa production in Indonesia. This session was also delivered by explanation, discussion, and quizzes in identifying the pest and disease. The presentation was focused on the threat of pest and disease which had not entered the area of Indonesia, such as frosy pod rot by Moniliophthora roreri fungi, sapu setan disease by Moniliophthora perniciosa fungi, rotten pod by Phytophthora megakarya fungi, cocoa mirids by Distantiella theobroma and Sahlbergella singularis insects. The resource person also explained each of these cocoa diseases which had not entered Indonesia yet by the identification, its worldwide spread, how they infected, how to control, and its wet nurse. After the presentation, the participants were asked to participate in some quizzes and grouped into 6 groups. The quiz was performed by providing some pictures of disease symptoms and the participants were asked to categorized and identified them based on its characters.

 

The second session speaker was Ir. Endang Sulistyowati, MP. and explained about the main cocoa pest and disease in Indonesia, and how to control them. During the session, she elaborated the refreshment presentations on identification, how they infected, and how to control these cocoa pests and diseases such as cocoa fruit borer (Conopomorpha cramella), rotten fruit (Phytophthora palmivora), vascular streak dieback (Oncobasidium theobromae), and ladybugs sucking fruit (Helopeltis spp.).

Ir. Endang Sulistyowati, MP, the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute presents the Main Cocoa Diseases in Indonesia and How To Handle. (Mondelēz-Cocoa Life)

 

After the presentation and discussion sessions of the resource persons, the participants were grouped into 5 groups in order to discuss the current situation on how the farmers in Indonesia experienced the attack of pests and diseases. Each group chose one of the topics of cocoa pod borer, Helopeltis spp., rotten fruit, vascular streak dieback, and anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.). The group presented the problem in the field and how to control the current pest and disease based on the chosen topic. After the presentation, the participants were engaged in discussion and feedbacks from the resource persons. In the end of the session, Mr. Muhammad Agra Rivay of Mondelēz Cocoa Technical R&D Lead Indonesia stressed out that this event would regenerate our insights and increase our awareness regarding the threat of cocoa pests and diseases which had not been attacked in Indonesia, and how we could control and manage the current cocoa pest and diseases wisely and appropriately. (Mondelēz-Cocoa Life)