Pest attack makes Aman prospect bleak in 5 N dists
Yield may decline by 5 lakh tonnes, officials said
Affected by leaf blight disease and pest attack, paddy plants at a field in Dinajpur Sadar upazila turn yellowish. Photo: STAR
Aman paddy fields in five northern districts have been affected by massive pest attack, creating apprehension among farmers and agriculture officials about attaining the production target. Agriculture officials apprehend that the production may fall short of the target by around five lakh tones in the five districts. Aman paddy fields have been attacked by leaf blight disease and pests including brown plant hopper. Pesticides available in markets are ineffective in controlling the disease and pest attack, farmers said. Aman production target in five districts was fixed at 17,95,385 tonnes from 7,18,154 hectares in the current season. To attain the target, Aman was cultivated on 2,51,770 hectares in Dinajpur, 1,29,000 in Thakurgaon, 99,000 in Panchagarh, 1,26,000 in Joypurhat and 1,12,382 hectares in Nilphamari district. The disease and pest attack which started about two weeks ago, have by now affected about 1,92,240 hectares in the five districts. Of these, 40,000 hectares in Dinajpur, 10,000 in Nilphamari, 9,000 in Joypurhat, Thakurgaon 5,000 and 6,000 hectares in Panchagarh are worst affected, they said. The production may be about 4,80,600 tonnes short of the target because of the disease and pest attack, according to officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). Many farmers this correspondent talked to said the disease could be due to lack of potash in Aman fields. DAE officials said dearth of potash usually causes disease in paddy fields. Shortage of potash weakens paddy plants and make them susceptible to attack by leaf blight disease and brown plant hopper. Failing to apply pricey potash and TSP (triple super phosphate), farmers used heavy doses of urea. Excessive use of urea in Aman fields increased attack by brown leaf hoppers, according to an agronomist at Haji Danesh Science and Technology University. Md. Abul Hayat Deputy Director of Thakurgaon DAE, admitted that 5,000 hectares Aman cropland in his district have been affected with the diseases. He said DEA officials are advising farmers to use five kilograms of potash per bigha immediately to save the Aman crop. Contacted, DAE Deputy Director Md Moshin Ali in Joypurhat said he is aware of the attack by diseases and pest. Field workers and officials are advising farmers and the situation is under control in his district. Azizur Rahman of Narayanpur village in Biral upazila of Dinajpur said his five out of seven acres of Aman filed have been affected. He has already spent Tk 6000 on pesticides but could not control the diseases. The total production may be 100 maunds less this year, he added. Zaherul Islam of Dinajpur Sadar upazila said that five out of his eight bighas have been affected. According to a fertiliser dealer, a bag of TSP is sold at Tk 3,823 against last year's price between Tk 800 and Tk 1500 while the price of potash is Tk 2,376 against last year's Tk 800. Agronomists said potash makes paddy plants strong and phosphate helps them attain maturity. Most farmers could not buy the fertilisers this year due to their high prices, they said. Farmers said insecticides available in the district are ineffective as they are adulterated. Our Correspondent reports from Gaibandha: Vast areas of Aman fileds have been attacked by pest and diseases in Gobindagnaj Upazila. The fields are turning yellowish and the affected areas are increasing day by day, farmers and DAE officials said. By now, fields in 17 unions in Gobindaganj Upazila have been affected, agriculture officials said. Farmers said BR-11 and Sarnna varieties of paddy are being easily attacked by pests and disease, which cannot be controlled even by spraying pesticide. Gobindagnaj Upazila Agriculture Officer said pest attack is a seasonal phenomenon. It increased this year but to 'untimely rain'.
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