Indonesia, Aug. 2 -- A widespread brown planthopper infestation threatens a substantial rice harvest in the border area of Trenggalek and Tulungagung districts in East Java, where hundreds of hectares of rice fields show signs of severe damage.

Preliminary field reports on Friday indicated that the pest has caused extensive damage, resulting in dried-out crops in Durenan Sub-district, Trenggalek, and Pakel Sub-district, Tulungagung.

Despite farmers' repeated attempts to control the infestation with various pesticides, these efforts have been largely unsuccessful.

Ahmad Zuhdan, the Durenan Sub-district Head, reported that 238 hectares of rice fields across 12 villages in his area are affected, with infestations ranging from light to sev...