Perching method gets popular

Use of perching method sees a gradual rise among the farmers of Rangpur agriculture region as they are opting for environment-friendly ways to check harmful pests.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers are reducing the application of insecticides by applying both live and dead perching methods to save their growing Aman rice plants from pests’ attacks to get enhanced rice yield at reduced costs.

“Farmers are reaping benefits from adopting the eco-friendly perching method in combating pests’ attacks on growing Aman rice plants,” Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Emdad Hossain Sheikh said.

Adopting the perching method, farmers have already set up bamboo poles or branches of trees on 3,96,370 hectares of growing Aman rice fields till Monday against a target of bringing 6,12,660 hectares of cultivated land area under the method in the region. The DAE had fixed a target of bringing 6,15,685 hectares of land under Aman rice cultivation, and of them, 6,12,660 hectares of the cultivated land area will be brought under the perching method of pest management this season.

“Farmers have already brought 1,06,100 hectares of land under the life and 2,90,270 hectares of land under dead perching methods while cultivating Aman rice as the process continues,” Hossain said.

Following motivational and training activities being conducted by the DAE, farmers are expanding the adoption of the low-cost, effective and eco-friendly method in saving Aman rice plants from pests’ attacks at different stages to get more hygienic rice output.

Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid said random uses of pesticides are threatening the ecosystems causing the extinction of many indigenous species of fishes, beneficial insects and birds.

“Adopting the perching method, farmers erect bamboo poles or tree branches on Aman rice fields at a particular distance so that birds could perch on those and eat pests which are harmful to rice plants to protect the crop reducing the use of pesticides,” Rashid added.

Farmers Mominul Haque, Abdul Jabbar, Nurul Amin and Abdul Hye of different villages in Rangpur said they are adopting the perching method which helps to produce more hygienic rice, minimizing the cost of insecticides and saving the environment.

Farmer Manik Mian of Darshona area in Rangpur Sadar said birds perch on the poles and eat harmful pests on the growing Aman rice plants in his crop fields.

“Farmers now know how to protect growing Aman rice plants from pests’ attack and save money using the perching method,” Manik said, adding that application of the method has really been productive and profitable.

Farmers Dulal Chandra, Aiyub Ali and Golam Hossain of Taraganj upazila in Rangpur said many birds perch on the poles of their growing Aman rice fields to eat insects protecting the tender rice plants to ensure healthier growth.

Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Md Obaidur Rahman Mandal said the adoption of the eco-friendly perching method is reducing random use of pesticides and improving soil health.

“The process of adopting the perching method will continue in growing Aman rice fields till the next month-end to increase production of more hygienic Aman rice minimizing the cost of insecticide,” he said.