The use of Bokashi Fertilizers and Biological Control of Cocoa Pod Borer (Conopomorpha Cramerella) on Cocoa Farmers in Langkat District, North Sumatera

Cocoa is a source of life for more than 6.5 million smallholder families. The numbers of cocoa farmers in Langkat Regency are around 2081 with an area of 2603 / ha. Langkat farmers' cocoa production is only around 950 kg/ha, but some farmers only produce around 450 kg/ ha/year. One of the problems with the low production of cocoa in Indonesian, especially in the Langkat Regency of North Sumatera was caused by the lack of fertilization as well as the scarcity of subsidized an-organic fertilizer. In addition to attacking by pests and diseases, such as Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB) and VSD (Vascular Streak Dieback) disease. Cocoa Pod Borer, Conopomorpha cramerella is a very serious pest and decreasing of production up to 80%, this is due to the fact that the CPB is difficult to control and has spread throughout the Langkat Regency. Fertilization is carried out with bokashi organic fertilizer from the leaves of cocoa, bran, husk, and manure which is fermented with EM-4 as much as 2 kg/tree. Biological control using Dolichoderus thoracicus Smith ant has been developed as a natural agent for controlling CPB pests by making ants nest from 30-40 dried cocoa leaves and tied with raffia ropes. After 6 months, young fruits aged 1 and 2 months that have been developed by Dolichoderus thoracicus Smith are harvested after ripening, and the result is that cocoa fruit is only severely under 5%. Most of the farmers communicated to apply to their respective cocoa gardens an hoped they could produce organic cocoa in the future.v