Netrakona farmers may not get targeted quantity of aman

A large section of farmers may not get the targeted quantity of aman paddy as 40,000 hectares were attacked by pests, particularly by Pamri poka and leaf folder, this season in all the 10 upazilas of Netrakona.
The aman cultivators of the district are hoping against hope due to the widespread pest attack. Their frustration deepened because of non-availability of effective insecticides in the local markets in proper time to combat the pest menace.
Vast paddy fields turned yellowish due to attack by an insect locally called 'Pamri Poka' about three weeks ago. Pamri and leaf-folder damaged roots and leaves of aman plants, sources of Netrakona Department of Agriculture Extension said.
The worst affected upazilas of the district are Sadar, Kendua, Atpara, Barhatta and Purbadhala upazilas.
A DAE source said they had apprised the local Agriculture Departments of the massive pest attack in different upazilas of the district with a request to supply effective insecticides for pest control.
"Failing to receive supply of pesticides, we advised the farmers to spray pesticides available in the local markets, he said preferring anonymity.
Md Shahjahan Mia of village Sharmushia in Atpara upazila said he applied insecticides of different local brands but those were not effective.
Taking to this correspondent, farmers from different areas of the district have urged the Agriculture Department to provide them with right kind of pesticide in right time to fight the pest attack.
They apprehended that nearly fifty per cent of the aman crop in the district would be damaged this season as the pest attack could not be controlled.
The farmers said, repeated flash flood this year added to the situation as they damaged their newly planted aman twice. Missing of aman target will now cripple them economically, they said.
The DAE sources said 2,26,000 hectares of land have been brought under aman cultivation in the district this season with a target to produce 4.52 lakh tonnes of paddy.
Contacted, DAE deputy director in Netrakona Mohammad Abdullah Ibrahim told the correspondent that the pest attack took a serious turn in the district due to lack of rain.
Block supervisors and others officials of the department are visiting the affected paddy fields and giving necessary suggestion to the farmers to control the pest menace.