The The Impact of Farmers' Production and Income Due to Ganoderma Boninense Disease on Palm Oil Plants in Bilah Hulu District, Labuhan Batu District – North Sumatra Province

Abstract

Ganoderma was first discovered by Peter Adolf Karsten in 1881 and to date, more than 250 species of Ganoderma have been found worldwide. Labuhan Batu Regency consists of 9 sub-districts, one of which is Bilah Hulu District, with smallholder oil palm plantations covering an area of 4,901 ha. Based on observations in the field, quite a lot of smallholder oil palm plantations in Bilah Hulu District were attacked by Ganoderma which resulted decrease in crop production and would further reduce farmers' income. The results of a survey regarding  decline in production and income of oil palm farmers due to Ganoderma disease in the District, Labuhan Batu Regency, North Sumatra Province showed that after the plants were attacked by Ganoderma disease, the production of the farmers' plantation decreased by 9.05 tons or 26.75% per year. Meanwhile, farmers' income decreased by 28.27%. Control of this disease is important because it has the potential to reduce the production and income of oil palm farmers.