Kupang, Feb. 11 -- Head of the Agriculture Office of Sikka District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Mauritius Terwinyu da Cunha said that some 2,540 hectares of maize plantations in the district were attacked by fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda. "The attack of the Spodoptera has been occurring since last month and generally occurs in the northern region of Sikka," he said when contacted from Kupang Tuesday, and is related to a similar attack in the district area on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province.

There were massive attacks in several districts around the North Coast of Sikka such as Kewapante, Kangae, Alok, East Alok, Alok, West, Magepanda, and Waigete, he said.

These areas have low rainfall compared to the central and southern...