Virus attacks in Ishwardi's bean kingdom leave farmers distraught

PABNA, Sept 18: Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna, widely known as the "bean kingdom" of the country, has been commercially cultivating various varieties of beans for over 30 years. However, this year, farmers are facing severe losses due to virus outbreaks and adverse weather conditions.

Typically, at this time of year, farmers harvest 30 to 40 kg of beans per bigha. But due to incessant rainfall, the yield has plummeted to just 8 to 10 kg per bigha, causing significant economic hardship for the farmers.

Although beans are generally a winter crop, farmers in Ishwardi have long been cultivating early varieties. This year, excessive rain has led to an outbreak of a virus known as yellow mosaic, which has severely affected the fields. Additionally, infestations of whiteflies and aphids are compounding the problem. Farmers, once hopeful for a profitable season, are now distraught by the devastating turn of events.

According to local farmers and officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), early bean cultivation was met with persistent rainfall from the beginning. This caused waterlogging in most fields, weakening the plants and making them vulnerable to viral attacks. The roots have started to rot, while leaves are turning brown and falling off. Pesticides have proven largely ineffective under these conditions.

Despite the challenges, many of the early-planted bean fields are now in bloom, and some farmers have begun harvesting and selling their produce.

The Ishwardi Upazila Agriculture Office set this year's bean cultivation target at 1,290 hectares, of which 890 hectares were allocated for early varieties.

A visit to Ramnathpur, Betbaria, Sheikhpara, Muladuli, Baghhasla, Saraikandi, and Sreepur areas in Ishwardi and Atghoria upazilas-known hubs for early bean farming-revealed fields in full bloom. While some farmers were tending to their crops, others were already picking beans for market.

Anwarul Islam, a farmer from Baghhasla village, told The Financial Express (FE), "Due to excessive rain and the attacks of viruses and fungi, we are not getting a proper harvest. Even though pesticide dealers suggest different products, nothing seems to work."

Habibur Rahman, another farmer from the same village, said, "The disease in the bean fields will reduce yield significantly. It will be hard to sell the beans at good prices."

Abed Ali Munshi echoed these concerns, stating, "I cultivated beans on one bigha of land. The virus has spread across the entire plot. Every morning, I have to remove yellow, curled vines and leaves. This is reducing the yield, while the cost of fertilisers and pesticides keeps rising."

Rumana Parveen, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of the Saraikandi Block in Muladuli Union, told FE, "Beans have been cultivated on about 200 hectares in this block. Due to heavy rain, farmers could not care for their crops in time. Viruses have appeared in some areas, but there's no reason to panic. Whiteflies and aphids can be controlled with pesticides. However, if plants are infected with viruses, they should be uprooted."

Abdul Momin, Agriculture Officer of Ishwardi Upazila, said, "Early beans have been cultivated on 890 hectares in the upazila. Harvesting has already begun. Though heavy rain has disrupted production, we are hopeful that yields will improve if the rain stops."