Feral pigs and their threat to coconut palm development on tidal areas: a case on transmigration settlements in South Sumatra

• Published in: Indonesian Agricultural Research & Development Journal (Indonesia) Vol. 19; no. 1
• Main Author: Munaan, A. (Loka Penelitian Kelapa, Pakuwon (Indonesia))
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1997
• Subjects: CERDO; COCOS NUCIFERA; CONTROL DE PLAGAS; DAMAGE; DANOS; DEGAT; INTERTIDAL ENVIRONMENT; LUTTE ANTIRAVAGEUR; MIGRACION; MIGRATION; MILIEU INTERTIDAL; PEST CONTROL; PORCIN; SUMATRA; SWINE; ZONA DE INTERMAREA
• ISSN: 0126-2920

Feral pigs (Sus spp.) live in various places in Indonesia, including tidal areas where some of the transmigration settlements have been established. There is vast and dense vegetation on sites, ideal for pig breeding ground. Despite every effort exerted to control the pigs, they keep infesting the area. The impact of pig attack on newly transplanted coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L.) is enormous, threatening coconut development. Pigs feed on the embryo of the nut and the shoot of the juvenile palms. During the period of 1993-96, at Pulau Rimau transmigration settlement, out of 14 villages transplanted with hybrid coconut palms (approximately 3.000 ha), only 8 villages left where the palms survived. Flood, pigs, and other reasons destroyed the palms. About 20 percent of the mortality of the young palms up to 2-years old, were due to pig attack. In the meantime, at Air Sugihan transmigration settlement, 16 percent out of approximately 4.600 ha of newly transplanted coconut palms were also destroyed by pigs. Many farmers left the area and abandoned their land due to crop failure. Pigs, discouraging neighbouring farmers then infested the abandoned land. Hence, large scale and continuous pig control campaign is urgent to ensure coconut development and food crop growing to support the transmigrants at these settlements Babi hutan (Sus spp.) terdapat di berbagai daerah di Indonesia, termasuk daerah pasang surut yang dibuka untuk lokasi transmigrasi. Vegetasi yang begitu lebat dan luas di lokasi tersebut, sangat sesuai untuk perkembangan babi hutan. Walaupun telah dikendalikan dengan berbagai cara, babi hutan tetap bertahan. Dampak serangannya luar biasa sehingga mengancam kelangsungan pengembangan kelapa di daerah tersebut. Babi memakan embrio di dalam bibit tanaman yang masih sangat muda, dan pucuk tanaman sehingga menyebabkan kematian. Di pemukiman transmigrasi Pulau Rimau, semula kelapa dikembangkan di 14 desa yang mencakup area sekitar 3.000 ha. Namun, dalam periode 1993-96, pertanaman kelapa hanya bertahan di 8 desa karena mati oleh banjir, hama babi hutan, dan sebab lainnya. Sekitar 20 persen tanaman muda sampai dengan umur 2 tahun, mati akibat serangan babi hutan. Dalam waktu yang sama, di pemukiman transmigrasi Air Sugihan, 16 persen dari sekitar 4.600 ha pertanaman kelapa yang baru ditanam, mati oleh babi hutan. Karena kegagalan tersebut, banyak petani yang meninggalkan lahannya dan kebun yang ditinggalkan berubah menjadi sarang babi hutan yang mengancam kebun tetangganya. Oleh sebab itu, sangat diperlukan gerakan pengendalian babi hutan secara besar-besaran dan berkesinambungan untuk menuntaskan masalah ini