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Betel Plantations

Mindless fertiliser, pesticide use poses health risk

SOHRAB HOSSAIN, Patuakhali
Indiscriminate use of fertilisers and insecticides in betel plantations poses health risk for consumers.
Visiting Uttar Dharandi village under Patuakhali Sadar upazila, this correspondent found farmer Jalal Uddin Howladar sprinkling fertiliser on his betel field near his house.
"I am sprinkling Briefer (granulated fertiliser) on my field covering 0.30 acres to control earthworm. The fertiliser makes the betel plants bulky and increases size of the leaves," he said.
Shyamol Gharami, another betel farmer of Chandipur village in the same upazila, said he uses insecticides and fertilisers in the field to get better yield for years.
He admitted that he never consulted any agriculture official or expert regarding the matter.
Like Jalal and Shyamol, a large number of farmers in the district use insecticides and fertilisers in their betel fields.
Md Nurul Islam, retailer of fertiliser and insecticides at Dharandi Bazar, said betel farmers often buy insecticides and fertilisers from his shop.
Dr Mohsin Ali Khan, chairman for entomology department of Patuakhali Science and Technology University, said farmers can use granulated fertilisers when they ready a new field but no fertiliser or insecticide is allowed at
next steps.
"If granulated fertilisers are used after planting betel, leaves absorb it and the residue remains active for 20 to 25 days. Regular consumption such betel leaves can cause various diseases like dysentery and asthma," he said.
M d Aw al U 11 a h , Kamlapur union subassistant agriculture officer, said, granulated ferti-
liser like Briefer and insecticides like Furadan and Basudin are used in paddy fields but those should not be used in betel plantations.
"I suggest farmers to use organic fertilisers instead of chemical ones but many farmers don't follow the advice," he said.
Ashok Kumar Sharma, deputy director of the Department of
Agriculture Extension, said 648 hectares of land in the district has been brought under betel cultivation this year.
"Earthworm does not harm betel leaves. Rather it adds to soil fertility. But indiscriminate use of insecticides kills the helpful creature. We are conducting training programme to encourage farmers to use organic fertilisers in their