Continuous rain has brought fungal disease to cauliflower and cabbage in Birampur, Dinajpur, leaving farmers somewhat worried. The agriculture department says the problem was caused by excessive rain and the crops are likely to recover if treated.

According to the upazila agriculture office, vegetables of various kinds have been grown on 116 hectares in the upazila this season. The recent continuous rain has brought fungal disease to cauliflower and cabbage.

At the Mahmudpur field in the upazila, vegetable plots stretched to the horizon: cucumber, bitter gourd, cauliflower, cabbage, brinjal and more. After several days of rain, the lower leaves of the cabbage plants had turned yellow and some leaves were rotting, though the other vegetables were fine.

Farmer Abul Hossain said: "I have grown cabbage on 20 decimals this time. After several days of rain the lower leaves have turned red. People from the agriculture office came and told me to spray pesticide. Now let's see what happens."

Another farmer, Jahidul Islam, said: "This time I grew yardlong beans on 14 decimals and brinjal on 12 decimals. The leaves of all the bean plants have turned yellow, and the brinjal seedlings have fallen over in a light wind. I'll suffer a big loss on all my vegetables this time."

Jahidul Islam, the Birampur upazila agricultural extension officer, said several days of continuous rain had brought fungal disease to the cabbage. Farmers are being made aware of how to apply treatment.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.