Indonesia steps up shallot crop protection as drought risks rise

Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture is stepping up pest and disease control in shallot-growing areas as drought and extreme weather increase production risks. The ministry said the measures are designed in part to prevent a repeat of the sudden crop decline known locally as “janda pirang”, which affected several production centres in 2023.

Earlier action in the field

The strategy combines more intensive crop monitoring, early detection of plant pests and diseases, technical support for growers and the distribution of control materials.

The ministry is promoting integrated pest management, including botanical pesticides and light traps, which can help suppress pest populations while reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. Plant protection officers and agricultural extension workers are also increasing field surveillance so problems can be identified before they spread.

Lessons from the 2023 outbreak

“Janda pirang” describes shallot plants that rapidly turn yellow or straw-coloured across large areas before dying, potentially causing substantial yield losses or complete crop failure.

The phenomenon was first widely reported on Java in 2023 during prolonged El Niño-related drought and high temperatures. At the same time, several production areas recorded sharp increases in onion thrips (Thrips tabaci), while harvested shallot area fell in some key growing regions.

Cases were still observed in 2024, but at lower intensity and without the same surge in thrips populations. No cases were reported in 2025, when Indonesia experienced wetter dry-season conditions.

Drought remains a production concern

The ministry said the previous outbreaks show that crop stress, pest pressure and weather conditions can interact, making preventive monitoring more effective than waiting for visible symptoms.

Alongside pest control, Indonesia is preparing for drought through irrigation, water pumping, reservoirs and drought-tolerant seed varieties as part of wider efforts to protect agricultural production.

source and photo: hortikultura.pertanian.go.id