Taraganj Upazila in Rangpur
Farmers worried as pest, disease wreak havoc on aman
Stem rot disease badly affects an aman field in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur district. Attack by stem borer (majra poka) on the plants has also added to the worry of the farmers in the upazila.Photo: STAR
Massive pest attack and stem rot disease have affected the transplanted aman (T-aman) in Taraganj upzila of Rangpur district, much to the worry of farmers. Stem borer (majra poka) and stem rot disease have continued wreaking havoc on the aman plants, foiling farmers' attempt to prevent them by spraying insecticides. Frustration has gripped the farmers of the upazila as they have to incur heavy loss this year because of pest attack and outbreak of the disease. While visiting Rahimapur, Ghanirampur, Jhakuapara, Mandolpara, Kashiabari, Boraty, Kumarpara, Narayanjan, Balapara and Jalubar villages recently, this correspondent found that at least 20 to 25 percent of the T-aman plants have been badly affected. The farmers told this correspondent that T-aman plants at different villages are turning yellowish and drying up due to attack by stem borer and outbreak of stem rot disease. “If the situation continues, we will suffer huge losses,” said Abdul Ali, 55, of Ghanirampur village under the upazila. Majumder, 45, a farmer of Ujial village in the upazila, said he has planted aman on one bigha of land this year. But he failed to prevent spread of stem disease and pest attack on his farmland despite spraying insecticides. He said, “Fifty percent of T-aman plants on my land have already been damaged even though I sprayed pesticides thrice a day”. According to the district Agriculture officials, aman has been cultivated on 9,800 hectares of land in Taraganj upazila. Taraganj upazila official of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said T-aman plants in different areas in the upazila have been attacked with stem borer (Majra poka) and stem rot disease. “Drought-like situation at the beginning of the season and shortage of potash fertiliser on the paddy fields are the main reasons behind the attack by stem borer (majra poka) and outbreak of stem rot disease,” said Shamir Chandra, upazila agriculture officer. He urged the affected farmers to use more potash fertiliser and spray pesticides like Sumithion, Darsban and kantop on their farmland.
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