Pests invade aman crops in 3 dists

Pests are destroying aman sheaves which will be ready for harvest within 10 to 20 days, according to reports from different areas in the three districts.

Artificial price-hike of pesticides has aggravated the situation while block supervisors allegedly failed miserably to come to the aid of farmers.

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In Nalitabari upazila, Sherpur, aman was transplanted on about 52,000 hectares of land. One third of the crop was destroyed by flood. Now the remaining portion of the crops is being attacked by pests, locally called Majra, Leda and Shihkata. As a result paddy plants are being attacked with various diseases.

The situation is very miserable in Nikly, Karimganj and the adjoining upazilas in Kishoreganj, Atpara, Kendua, Purbadhola and Madan upazilas in Netrakona district.

Twenty-five per cent of aman crops on 2,46000 hectares of land in two districts were damaged by flood while the remaining portion is being destroyed by pests.

Two farmers, Aminur Rashid and Rahim Afroz of Jugirnagua village in Atpara upazila, Netrakona told this correspondent that pests already damaged about 50 per cent of their aman crops.

Rashid told this correspondent, he cultivated aman crops on four acres of land. Crops on one acre of land was damaged by flood and rest three acres are now being destroyed by pests.

Rahim said he applied pesticides worth several hundreds of taka on his crops as per advice of local agriculture officials but he did not get the desired result.

Enamul, another farmer of Baromary village in Nalitabari upazila, Sherpur told The Daily Star pests are destroying aman crops on his five acres of land which was supposed to be ready for harvest within a short period.

Farmers informed that agricultural block supervisors discouraged use of pesticides and stressed on integrated pest control management through use of lights at night and nets to destroy pests. But farmers are applying pesticides in large quantity to control pests.

This has increased the demand of pesticides. Unscrupulous traders have created artificial scarcity of pesticides in local markets causing its abnormal price-hike.

Local farmers told this correspondent pesticides like Sin sifarmer 400-M, 100- M and 50- M are being sold at between Tk 390, 110 and 60. Bifcot 400-M, 100-M and 50-M are being sold at between Tk 340, 150 and 80.

Adfin 400-M and 100-M are on sale at between Tk 310 and 80;Nain-100 at Tk 150, Tild- 125M at Tk 215 and 50 M at Tk 110.

Farmers alleged that prevailing prices are 40 to 60 per cent higher than previous prices. Taking its advantage, some dishonest traders are also selling adulterated pesticides.

On contact, the Upazila Agriculture Officer of Atpara told that 18 block supervisors had been working in different areas to help farmers protect their crops.

But farmers told this correspondent they did not see any block supervisor in their areas during the last few days.