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Massive pest attack ahead of Aman harvest

30 pc crops in Bhola, Patuakhali damaged: Pesticide prices up

Our Correspondent, Baruai
Surviving a ravaging flood, fanners in Bhola and Patuakhali are now baffled and panicked with another calamity. There has been a massive pest attack on Aman fields ahead of the harvest.
According to reports from different areas in the two districts, pests are destroying paddy sheaves which will be ready for harvest in 10-15 days.
In Charfesstion upazila in Bhola, Aman was transplanted on about 69.000 acres of land. One third of it wits destroyed by flood. Now the rest are under massive attack by pests locally called Majra, Leda and Shih Kata Poka. Paddy plants are also being attacked with diseases like.
The situation is the same in Kalapara and adjoining upazilas in
Patuakhali. One third of the 30,000 acres Aman field had reeled under flood water and the rest are being destroyed by pests.
Sultan Ahmed, 65, and Abdul Khalek, 50 ofWest Rajapara village in Kalapara said Kushi Poka (a pest) damaged about fifty percent of his two acre Aman field.
They used pesticides worth several hundred taka on advice of agriculture officials and block supervisors, but to no use.
Rakibul, 38, another farmer of Baroitala village of Kalapara said pests are destroyed almost ready-for harvest Aman crop on his 18 bighaland.
Local agriculture officials claimed that the situation was normal and under control. Experienced block supervisors are working round the clock in the fields, advis-
ing farmers on ways to save their crop, they said.
But farmers said their advice is of little use.
The Block supervisors discourage use of pesticide and stress on integrated pest control management, which includes use of lights at night and nets to dest roy pests.
Parmers are suing pesticides in larger quantities now to control pests.
This has increased their demand, causing price hike and artificial scarcity in local markets.
Local farmers said, pesticides like Sin-Sifarmer 100-M, 100-M, 50-M are selling at Tk 370, 100 and 50 respectively. Bifcot 400-M, 100-M, and 50-M are selling at Tk 320, 120 and 50.
Adfin 400-M and 100-M are selling Tk 290 and 75; Nain-100 forTk.
130, Tild- 125M forTK 205 and 50 M forTk. 100.
Farmers alleged that the prices are 30 to 50 per cent higher than earlier prices. Taking the advantage, some dishonest traders are also selling adulterated pesticides.
Abul Kashem a retail pesticide seller at Charfession told to The Daily Star that due to crisis of pesticides, wholesalers at the district town increased the prices.
Kalani Khan, Upazila Agriculture Officer at Charfession said 21 block supervisors are in different areas to help farmers save heir crops. "We are trying our best", he said.
But many farmers this correspondent talked to said they did not see any block supervisor in their areas in the past fewdays.