Neck blast disease of rice has been a major disaster this Boro season. Across the whole northwestern region, farmers fear a big shortfall in Boro yields. The agriculture department sees the damage as minor, but many farmers have already suffered huge losses.
Burnt ears before harvest
Before the crop could reach their homes, farmers' fortunes were burnt. The ears of rice broke at the neck and withered. From a distance it is hard to see, but up close the severity is clear.
Losses in Panchagarh
In Islampur, Boda upazila, Panchagarh, farmers say the crop on at least 100 bighas of one large Boro field was destroyed in this way. Nearby areas look the same, with every farmer losing 80 to 100 per cent.
They say the agriculture department could not be reached in this crisis. Where blast entered, it spread to most of the land, and some who followed the department's first advice fell into more trouble.
A question of recovery
Farmers in every northern district are distraught over blast losses, while the agriculture department sees the overall damage as minor. The question is how long those whose entire crop was taken will need to recover.
Source: Shykh Seraj, Hridoye Mati O Manush. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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