Tree branches, poles, bamboo sticks and dhaincha stems are set in rice fields so that birds can perch on them and eat harmful insects. This is known as the perching method, and it is raising crop production at low cost. It is becoming popular in Joypurhat.

According to the district agriculture extension office, Boro rice was grown on 69,705 hectares in the district's five upazilas this season, and on average 80 percent of the land used perching, with efforts under way to reach 100 percent. Local farmers used to be reluctant to set perches after planting, and yields were lower. The method now benefits farmers greatly and yields have risen.

In fields in Banyapara, Batoli and Dharki in Bombu union of Sadar upazila, and Munjhar and Talshon in Khetlal upazila, farmers have set bamboo tops and tree branches in their Aman fields, and some are planting firewood trees. Drongos, mynas, bulbuls, shamas, magpie robins and jungle babblers sit on the perches and eat insects. A single drongo eats at least 20 to 25 stem borer moths, eggs and pupae a day, and one bird can destroy thousands of pests a month. Perches must be set immediately after planting.

• Abdus Sabur of Banyapara village has grown Aman on five bighas with perches for several years, lowering costs and raising yields.
• Asadul Islam of Karai Chakpara said pests used to attack all the rice in their fields and pesticides did not work, but after talking to the agriculture office and using perching, farmers are getting results.
• A farmer in Hichmi village said setting bamboo tops and branches right after planting controls pests, and using less pesticide improves yields.

Agriculturist Mojibur Rahman, additional deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension, said rice is usually attacked by stem borers, leaf rollers, khatsur, grasshoppers and leafhoppers, which insect-eating birds eat from the perches. Perching is very effective, reduces pesticide use and production costs, and keeps the environment free of pesticide pollution; coverage grows every year and has reached 80 percent this year. Bird droppings also add organic matter to the soil and raise fertility.

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