Brown planthoppers, known locally as current poka, have attacked aman paddy in fields across several areas of Aymarasulpur union in Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat. Farmers cannot save their crops from the pests even after spraying pesticides, and they are worried that yields will fall short of expectations.

The agriculture department says the upazila agriculture office is working to give farmers all kinds of advice and overall support. Jahurul Islam, a farmer from Ananthapur village in Aymarasulpur union, said the planthopper attack has caused heavy damage to farmers' aman paddy.

Binoy Chandra, a farmer from Darpal village in the upazila, said farmers look after their crops in the field all day, but they cannot properly find anyone from the agriculture office in the field to advise them on which medicine to apply against pests or diseases.

Liton Arman, a farmer from Agair village, said he had grown aman paddy on 4 bighas this year. With a good crop he had hoped for 20 maunds of paddy per bigha, but because of the planthopper attack he now thinks he may not be able to harvest even half. He too complained that, unable to find anyone from the agriculture office for advice, he applied pesticides himself.

Fazle Rabbi, the sub-assistant agriculture officer responsible for Aymarasulpur union, said he is handling such a large union alone, and goes to the field at once to advise any farmer who reports a problem with their crop.

Panchbibi upazila agriculture officer Lutfar Rahman, an agriculturist, said action would be taken after the matter is investigated.

Source: Bangladesh Pratidin. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.