Fungus attack on paddy fields

Fungus attack on paddy fields is discolouring the crops in Palashbari upazila, much to the worry of the farmers.

Paddy farmers of Kumedpur village in the upazila are facing problems as their paddy fields have turned white in two weeks. The attack is spreading to adjoining fields, which will have an adverse affect on boro production, farmers said.

“I cultivated boro paddy on three bighas of land as a sharecropper, but the ear of paddy turned white and there is no rice inside the husk,” said Mokbul Mia.

“I am worried over the attack of disease on my two and half bighas as I may not be able to recover the production cost,” said Shahidul, another marginal farmer.

Monoharpur Union Parishad Chairman Mizanur Rahman said, “Adverse weather affected boro cultivation and I am being informed about the attack by fungal disease from different areas every day. We have requested the agriculture department to take measures to stop the attack on boro fields.”

Additional Deputy Director of Gaibandha Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Motiur Rahman said a similar situation is also prevailing in other upazilas of the district, adding that the attack was caused by mild cold wave and cloudy weather that has been continuing for the last two weeks.

A views exchange meeting was held at Madrasa Bazar in Udakhali union under Fulchhari upazila on Saturday to raise awareness of the farmers, where agriculture experts advised boro farmers to spray pesticides and anti-fungal chemicals to stop the attack, he added.

Deputy Director of DAE AKM Ruhul Amin said farmers were not prepared for the fungal attack, and the disease spread in some areas as timely action was not taken against it.

Farmers of affected areas have formed teams to conduct drives against the disease, and it will continue till harvesting of the boro crop, he added.