Bright golden sunlight falls on green paddy fields, and as far as the eye can see transplanted Aman rice sways in the autumn breeze. In Kushtia this year the crop has been grown on more land than the target set by the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). But pest infestation in the fields has risen, which the report attributes to climate change, and farmers are at a loss because they cannot bring the pests under control.

The district DAE said the target this year was 88,885 hectares of transplanted Aman across the district's six upazilas: 79,400 hectares of high-yielding (HYV) varieties, 8,335 hectares of hybrids and 1,150 hectares of local varieties.

In the current season, however, transplanted Aman has been grown on 88,895 hectares in the district: 77,388 hectares of HYV, 10,474 hectares of hybrids and 1,033 hectares of local varieties. HYV cultivation fell short of its target, but the area under the other varieties rose. Farmers have grown 34 HYV varieties developed by rice research (BRRI) and BINA, 12 hybrid varieties and two local varieties.

Officials said the high-yielding varieties grown this time include Swarna (11,947 hectares), BRRI dhan49 (10,416 hectares) and BRRI dhan39 (10,153 hectares). Hybrids include Dhani Gold (5,821 hectares), AZ-7006 (2,554 hectares) and Mahyco-1 (520 hectares). Two local Kushtia varieties, Kalojira and Badshabhog, have been grown on 1,033 hectares. Cultivation of the Rupsha variety has also begun on 45 hectares in Mirpur upazila and on 500 hectares in Khatobabu and Bheramara.

According to district agriculture department statistics, the production target this year is 4,44,475 tonnes of transplanted Aman, which will yield 2,96,316 tonnes of rice.

Although the Aman target has been exceeded, farmers are worried about production. Stem borer (known locally as majra or "current" poka) infestation has been seen across the district, and farmers complain that pesticides are not working. Pest attacks were seen on most of the land in the Kochubaria field of Amla union in Mirpur upazila.

Dulal Ali, a farmer in the area, told Banglanews: "The transplanted Aman has grown quite well. But the stem borer has attacked badly. Even pesticides are not working."

Another farmer, Faridul Islam, said: "Just a few days ago my heart would fill when I went to the paddy field. I had hoped for a very good yield. But this time the yield may be lower because of the pests."

Delwar Hossain, a farmer in the Thakur Daulatpur area of Bheramara upazila, told Banglanews: "The stem borer attack is worse this year than last year. But there will not be much difference in yield."

Mirpur upazila agriculture officer Ramesh Chandra Ghosh told Banglanews that they were encouraging farmers to learn to tell beneficial and harmful insects apart, not to overuse pesticides, and to adopt modern cultivation and organic methods. He said farmers have become more interested in growing rice because of higher paddy prices and government incentives.

Source: Banglanews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.