Virus attack worries tomato growers in Jamalpur

A farmer casts a bleak look at his tomato field in Kalibarichar under Jamalpur Sadar upazila as plants of the popular winter vegetable are shrinking and dying due to attack of virus and bacteria, much to the frustration of a large number of farmers in the area. Photo: STAR

Tomato farmers on vast char (newly emerged landmass) areas of Nurundi and Tulshirchar unions under Jamalpur Sadar upazila are worried as a large portion of the plants are shrinking and dying due to attack by virus and bacterial wild.
A large number of farmers have cultivated tomato at Kachundhora, Chhaitentola and Kalibarichar under Nurundi union and Garamara, Saiberchar, Algirchar and Baghchar areas under Tulshirchar union of the upazila as good yield of the popular winter vegetable brought them good profit in previous years.
But the situation is frustrating this season.
"I have cultivated tomato on two bighas of land at Kalibarichar but about half of the tomato plants are getting shrunken," Abdul Khalek of Sribari village under Nurundi union told this correspondent during the latter's visit to the vegetable field at Kalibarichar.
“I have already spent Tk 40 thousand for the farming. But I am worried about recovery of the production cost as the yield will be much less this season,” he said, adding, “I don't know the reason. I have applied required amount of fertiliser and insecticides on my tomato fields but to no effect.”
Maznu Miah, Ranzu, Shahed Ali, Khuka, Helal and Sohel of Kachundhora village under Nurundi union said they are cultivating tomato for years and have so far made good profit. Last year, tomato cultivation on a bigha of land at Kalibarichar brought profit of Tk 60 thousand to Tk 70 thousand, they said.
But this season their tomato plants are shrinking.
The affected farmers said they have sprayed adequate amount of insecticide Menkujep powder on their tomato fields but to no effect. Most of them used hybrid seeds Udayon F-1 of Mollika Seed Company and Unnayan F-1 of Lalteer Seed Company for the cultivation.
The farmers, unsure about whether the problem lies in insecticides or seeds, alleged that they have failed get any remedy while no official from the upazila agriculture office have visited the char areas to see the matter.
When contacted, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension, Jamalpur, Abul Kashem said, "I visited the area a few days ago and found the tomato plants shrinking and dying. Test by our expert suggests that the plants are attacked by virus and bacterial wild. This is caused by frequent cultivation of the same crops on the same land."
"I am taking steps for sending agriculture officials to help the affected farmers in this regard," he said.