Pest attack worries Pirgachha Aman cultivators

Aman plants on vast tracts of lands have severely been affected by pest and disease at different areas under Pirgachha upazila in the district, making the peasants concerned about the output of the crop during the current season.

Most of the pest and disease infested Aman plants are getting yellowish and the pests are causing devastation to the adjoining fields, though the farmers made repeated attempts to control them by frequent spraying of insecticides and medicines, sources alleged.

Local farmers alleged that Aman fields at different villages under the upazila have seriously been affected by leaf blight and stem borer, locally called Mazra poka and stem rot disease which wither the plants and make them yellow.

Stem rot disease is caused by a fungus. It causes premature death and collapse of plants. Stalks develop black lesion, weaken at the water line, and then break, making harvest difficult, sources said.

According to Upazila Agriculture office sources about 21,800 hectares of land have been brought under Aman cultivation under the upazila during the current season.

A good number of farmers told this FE correspondent that substandard and low quality medicines and pesticides have flooded the markets. As a result they are often deceived by purchasing such pesticides and medicines with little or no effect, causing financial losses.

Expressing disappointment Basir Mia (45), a farmer of Nabdiganj village of the upazila said that his two out of three acres of Aman fields including Swarna and BR-11 varieties got affected by leaf blight and stem rot disease. He sprayed pesticides and medicine many times but failed to get rid of pest attack and disease, he added.

Upazila Agriculture officer Shamimur Rahman Shamim said adequate measures have been taken to combat spread of diseases and pest attack. They are also providing adequate advices to the peasants in this regard so that the growers can get rid of such adverse circumstances, he added.

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