Farmers in Meherpur are at their wits' end over stem borer, brown planthopper (known locally as the "current insect") and foot rot in their paddy. Spraying various pesticides has not given the results they hoped for, raising fears of a major loss of paddy yield in parts of the district. Affected farmers also complain that they are not getting accurate, timely advice from the agriculture department.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), aman paddy has been grown on 26,860 hectares in Meherpur district this year. But recent swings in weather and excess humidity have increased outbreaks of stem borer, brown planthopper and foot rot. The problem is especially severe in villages of Meherpur Sadar, Gangni and Mujibnagar upazilas.

Nasir Hossain, a farmer in Gobhipur village, said: "This season I grew BRRI dhan51 on two bighas. The plants were good at first, but a sudden stem borer attack destroyed part of the field. I have used pesticides from various companies but none of them work. Now I am making a last effort to save the rest of the land."

Amirul Islam, a farmer in the same village, said output would fall by half compared with last year. "Each bigha should have yielded 20 to 25 maunds of paddy; now it won't even be 10 maunds. Not only stem borer, but brown planthopper and foot rot are killing the plants. I went to the agriculture office for advice but did not get much help."

Azizul Islam, a farmer in Meherpur Sadar upazila, said he grew paddy on one and a half bighas at Harirampur field this year. His pesticide costs have tripled: where Tk 800 used to be enough for a bigha, he is now spending more than Tk 2,000, but without much result. The pest attacks in the field grow every day.

Alamgir Hossain, a farmer in Mujibnagar upazila, said: "We are using hand nets to stop stem borer in the paddy fields, but the infestation is still not falling. Agriculture officers hardly come to the fields. If we don't get proper guidance now, we will suffer big losses."

Sanjib Mridha, deputy director of the DAE in Meherpur, said: "Farmers need to be made more aware to prevent pest attacks on paddy. Planting paddy in lines and groups greatly reduces pest attacks. Farmers are also advised to use hand nets and approved pesticides in the fields. Regular irrigation and drainage must be ensured. Agriculture officers are now monitoring at field level, so there is no fear of any major damage."

Affected farmers, however, say that the longer effective action is delayed, the greater the paddy losses and financial pressure on farmers will be. Local farmers fear that without the right pesticides and government advice in time, many will be discouraged from growing paddy next season.

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