Aman rice plants are drying out before the booting stage across Rajarhat, Ulipur, Sadar and other parts of Kurigram. Leaves first lose colour and then dry as if scorched, in part of a field in some places and the whole field in others.
The agriculture department sees mealybug or similar pest attacks, drought and excess fertiliser among the main causes. The Department of Agricultural Extension says 121,630 hectares of Aman were planted in the district this season, but the affected area has not yet been determined.
Nur Alam, a farmer at Muktarpara in Rajarhat, says he does not know what to do as the plants dry before his eyes. Harunur Rashid of Panchpir in Ulipur says his leaves reddened and some plants are now drying. Farmers say damage is spreading because remedies came slowly; the department says it is advising them in the field.
Nahida Afrin, Kurigram Sadar upazila agriculture officer, advises cutting the affected part, where grain is unlikely, and spraying the whole field with approved pesticide at the prescribed dose. That can save the remaining plants and the expected yield, she says.
Fertiliser dealer Shafiqul Islam at Rajarhat bazar says farmers are being advised to use potash spray with zinc and fungicide. Farmers fear heavy losses if the scale of the damage is not assessed and action taken quickly.
Photo: Tanvir Rahat / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source: samakal
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