Farmers in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia are busy tending their aman paddy, but this year they are desperate over attacks by stem borer (majra), "current" insects, rice bug (gandhi) and other pests.

Because of low rainfall and intense heat this year, stem borer attacks began right after transplanting. Farmers complain that insecticides are not stopping them, and they fear losses.

Agriculture officials say light traps have been set up in the fields to curb the attacks and to identify the size and type of the pests.

In fields in Chapra, Nandanalpur and Jagannathpur unions, electric lights have been set up with basins of water beneath them, and insects of various kinds are flying in and falling into the water.

Amirul Islam, a farmer in the Tarapur area, said there were a great many pests in the fields this time. "The pesticide isn't working. That's why light traps are being set up as a test."

Upazila sub-assistant agriculture officer Md Ariful Islam Arif said pest attacks were higher because of the weather, and farmers' excessive and wrong spraying was making the pests stronger. That is why light traps are being used to list which pests are present.

In the paddy fields of Neeler Math in Jotmora village of Jadubayra union, the plants have begun to put out panicles, but pests have attacked them. Stem borers have cut the panicles, leaving the tops reddish, and in places plants have died and farmers are pulling them out. Farmers are spraying insecticide with spray machines, while some are weeding.

Farmer Md Shafiqul Islam said he had grown paddy on two and a half bighas at a cost of about Tk 16,000 a bigha. Pests attacked right after transplanting this year, and spraying has not helped.

Motiar Rahman, a farmer in Chhatian village, said he had grown paddy on four bighas and was spraying on the advice of local fertiliser dealers. He said he had never once seen an agriculture official in the field.

Kazi Tuhin, a farmer in Lahinipara of Chapra union, said farmers were helpless against the pests this time. Repeated spraying is not reducing them, and the market is flooded with adulterated pesticide.

According to the upazila agriculture office, transplanted aman has been grown on about 14,115 hectares in the upazila this year, more than 100 hectares above the target.

Upazila agriculture officer Debashish Kumar Das said pest attacks were higher this year because of the weather. Farmers are being advised regularly on how to deal with them, and field staff have been instructed to set light traps to control pests.

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