Pest attacks damage Aman crop in Bogura

This season, the massive pest attack on Aman paddy fields has become a concern for the farmers in Bogura’s Sherpur upazila.

The pest infestation has created doubt among the Aman growers about whether they could attain the production target this time.

However, despite their enormous efforts for the last three months, their dreams have been shattered as various insects are destroying the vast croplands encompassing 10 unions of the upazila.

The insects, such as brown grasshopper, locally known as current pest, stem borer, locally known as Mazrapoka, and sheath rot, bacterial leaf blight diseases, are destroying the paddy saplings in the fields across vast areas in the district.

Many of them have lost the hope of even getting so much harvest to recover the production cost.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office of the district, farmers of the upazila have cultivated several varieties of paddy, such as Bina Dhan-7, BRRI Dhan-11, 32, and 49, and Shawarma Dhan-5, on 22,200 hectares of land this year against a target of 20,800 hectares.

Although the local DAE sources have claimed that the pest attacks and diseases are under control, the reality is largely different, alleged farmers of the area.

They said despite using different kinds of pesticides repeatedly, the farmers are not getting any benefit.

Mofazzal Hossain, one such farmer of Kusumbi union of Altadighi Board Haat, told The Business Post that he cultivated Aman paddy on his 15 bighas of cropland, and most of his crops are soon going to be damaged because of the pest attack.

“I have applied four rounds of pesticides on my cropland. Although I could lessen the number of other pests, I am not being able to control the infestation by the current pests,” he said.

Echoing his remarks, Fazlul Karim Ukil and Shafiqul Islam Haji of Sadhubari area told The Business Post that if the situation prevails for long, it will affect the overall production of the district.

Many farmers will face losses and fall into a massive financial crisis if they lose their crops like this, added Fazlul.

Addressing the issue, Jannatul Firdaus, an acting agricultural officer of the upazila, told The Business Post that pest attacks are regular occurrences for paddy fields.

The application of good quality pesticides can lessen its severity, she said.

“We have employed a good number of deputy assistant agricultural officers to inspect the croplands and take necessary measures. We are also spreading awareness regarding different kinds of pest attacks among farmers through leaflets,” she added.

“We are regularly inspecting the area, and as per our knowledge, the situation is under control,” she further said.