According to the weather forecast, moderate to very severe heatwaves may prevail over most of the country for seven days (3-9 April), especially in most areas of Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has therefore issued an advance heatwave warning for rice.

The warning says the areas most at risk from the very severe heatwave are Rajbari, Manikganj, Madaripur, Faridpur, Kushtia, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Natore, Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Magura and Jhenaidah.

For rice at the growth stage from booting to hard dough, always keep 5-7 centimetres of water standing in the field to protect the crop from the heat. Make sure the field does not run short of water at this time.

In these conditions neck blast disease may strike. As a preventive measure before symptoms appear, spray Trooper at 8 grams per 10 litres of water or Nativo at 6 grams per 10 litres of water per 5 decimals of land in the afternoon, twice at an interval of five days.

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) and bacterial leaf streak (BLS) are also being seen widely in rice. In that case, mix 60 grams of Theovit, 60 grams of potash and 20 grams of zinc evenly in 10 litres of water and spray it over 5 decimals of land.

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