Pest attack on Aman paddy in Sylhet

Farmers are worried due to insect attack on Aman paddy in Sylhet division, following the damage to their paddy fields by the recent prolonged flood.

Minhaj Uddin, a farmer in Kalijuri village under Golapganj upazila of Sylhet told this correspondent, “I cultivated Aman paddy on five acres of land after the flood. But the plants are drying out due to severe attack by insects.”

Farmers are unable to combat the pest menace because of non-availability of effective insecticides in the local markets, he added.

Faruk Ahmed said he used pesticide but is worried that he will not get even 30 percent to 40 percent yield from his field.

Haji Alauddin, general secretary of Haor Bachao Krisok Bachao Andolon, a farmers' rights based organisation, told this correspondent that farmers could not cultivate Aman paddy in time this season as the floodwater took a long time to recede. As a result, a large section of farmers may not get the expected paddy output, he said.

In an effort to save the unaffected crop, many farmers uprooted the dying Aman plants, but this will affect the paddy production as there is no time to plant new saplings, Alaudin added.  

He said farmers could not seek suggestions from the agriculture officials and field workers as they are not visiting the affected fields.

However, agriculture officials refuted the allegation and said they are giving advice to the affected farmers to check the problem.

The cost of Aman cultivation has increased due to use of pesticides, but those have failed to check the attack, several farmers said.

Mosabbir Mia of Bade Monsur village in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar said they have to uproot the dying Aman plants to save the unaffected plants.

Habiganj Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Deputy Director Md Fazlur Rahman told this correspondent that Aman was cultivated on 75,500 hectares of land in the district, and the insect attack is under control.

Sunamganj DAE Deputy Director Jahedul Haque said that Aman was cultivated on 75,000 hectares of land in the district. “We found insect attack in different areas, but it will not affect the production target,” he added.

Moulvibazar DAE Deputy Director Shahjahan Chowdhury told this correspondent that Aman was cultivated on 96,500 hectares of land in the district.

Sylhet DAE Deputy Director Abul Hasem said 1.40 lakh hectares of land were brought under Aman cultivation in the district this year. The Aman paddy plants are drying due to attack by insects locally called pamri poka and lack of potassium, he added.

He urged the farmers to use more urea fertiliser to protect the plants from drying due to lack of potassium. “We are working in the field and giving suggestions to the affected farmers to tackle the situation,” he added.