A farmer in Ruhia, Thakurgaon, fears losing the rice on seven bighas of leased land after spraying pesticides on the advice of a local input dealer. Tayeb Ali says signs of rot appeared on the plants the day after the spray, and the crop has now turned red.

According to Krishi Shomoy, Tayeb Ali had leased seven bighas in the Madhupur Dangapara area of the upazila to grow rice. When diseases appeared on neighbouring fields, he went to Habibar, the owner of Habibar Traders, a pesticide shop in the nearby Kalitola area.

On the dealer's advice he was given several products sold as Setara, Amiscore, Kotan and Lupin Plus, which he sprayed on his field. From the next day the plants began to show damage.

"I followed the company representative's advice, and now the rice on my seven bighas is about to be ruined," Tayeb Ali said. "I leased the land and worked hard to grow it. Now I am about to lose everything."

Nasirul Alam, the Ruhia upazila agriculture officer (additional charge), said he would visit the damaged field soon, establish the cause of the damage and give the farmer all necessary support.

The case is a reminder that mixing several pesticides without first identifying the pest or disease can harm a crop; checking with the upazila agriculture office or the sub-assistant agriculture officer before buying is the safer course for farmers.

Reported by the Krishi Shomoy desk.

Source: Krishi Shomoy