A section of farmers in the district cultivate eucalyptus trees around their crop fields to earn good profit, ignoring the long-term negative impact on crop production caused by the giant foreign trees that consume huge water.

"I planted 120 eucalyptus trees surrounding my two bighas of crop field two years back with the hope of earning Tk 7-8 lakh from selling these 6-7 years later," said Didarul Islam, 48, a farmer at Palashi village of Aditmari upazila.

"It is true that I am getting less crop after planting eucalyptus trees around the field as they consume huge water," he said.

Didarul's neighbour Shahidul Islam, 50, said yield from his three bighas of land is affected after planting of eucalyptus trees along the borders of his neighbour's crop field.

"Leaves falling from eucalyptus trees on crop fields create problem as those do not rot. On the other hand, other tree leaves easily rot and turn into organic fertiliser," he said.

Ahmed Ali, 56, a farmer at Kulaghat village in Lalmonirhat Sadar, said, after planting 25 eucalyptus trees around his homestead five years back, fruit trees there are getting too weak to give expected yield.

Mahir Ali, 56, a farmer at Kakina village of Kaliganj upazila, who planted 80 eucalyptus trees around his crop field, said he does not know about its bad effects.

"A eucalyptus tree consumes water that is sufficient for 40 other trees.  It badly affects underground water, leaving long-term impact on crop production. We conduct motivation campaigns to discourage farmers from planting eucalyptus trees," said Biplob Kumar Mohanto, Aditmari upazila agriculture officer.

Following a government decision, the forest department stopped producing eucalyptus plants in 1995, said Mahbubur Rahman, forest officer in Lalmonirhat.

But nursery owners are still producing eucalyptus seedlings and these are sold in the local market. There are at least 55-65 species of eucalyptus in Bangladesh.

"The government took decision to ban eucalyptus, but in absence of specific direction from the authorities, we can't take action against nursery owners for preparing eucalyptus seedlings," he added.

Shafiqul Islam, owner of Bhai Bhai Nursery at BDR Hat in the town, said he prepares 35-40 thousand of eucalyptus seedlings every year and sells those at Tk 5-7 each.

"I prepare eucalyptus seedlings as there is huge demand in the local market. But I never plant eucalyptus around my nursery for other plants as it consumes huge water, affecting other trees there."