Aman prospect bleak in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat
Plants turning yellowish as lack of TSP causes leaf blight
A farmer spraying insecticides at his disease-affected Aman paddy field in Rangpur yesterday.Photo: STAR
Prospect of Aman paddy seems bleak in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts as paddy plants on vast areas of land are attacked with diseases caused by lack of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) and Murate of Potash (MoP). Although farmers and rice dealers in the two districts are anxious about possible shortfall in Aman production due to the diseases, Agriculture Extension Department (AED) officials said the problem is not so grave. Several rice dealers in the districts have expressed apprehension that yield of Aman paddy will decrease by almost half compared to last year and consequently the prices will be a great deal higher too. AED sources said about 86,000 hectares of land have been brought under Aman cultivation in Lalmonirhat district while 1,15,000 hectares in Kurigram district. Shortage of TSP and MoP caused the diseases in Aman paddy, Lalmonirhat AED Deputy Director Aftab Ahmed Khan said. He, however, said, “There is nothing to be worried as only five percent of Aman plants in the district were attacked with the sheet blight and rot blight.” Kurigram AED Deputy Director Mohshin Ali also ruled out the possibility of bleak prospect of Aman paddy this year, saying, “Although Aman plants at some places became yellowish a few days back, heavy rainfall in last five days helped them recover from the attack of leaf blight disease.” Several farmers of Lalmonirhat district, however, refuted the versions of AED officials and said about 60 percent Aman paddy plants in the district have been attacked with sheet blight and rot blight. “Aman paddy plants on 34 acres of my land were attacked with diseases as I could not use MoP and TSP due to their price hike,” said Reazul Hoque Patwari of Khedabag under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila. Abdur Rahman of Achingachh under Rajarhat upazila in Kurigram district said Aman paddy plants on 23 acres of his land are becoming yellowish due to the same reason. “I cultivated Aman paddy on 20 acres of land. Plants got yellowish and within seven days they got dried. I can hardly get 20 maunds of paddy from the land,” Motahar Hosen, a farmer of Hiramanik under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments