BSS, Barguna :
The perching method in agriculture has gained popularity in six upazilas of the district.
The farmers of the areas are getting much interested in using the method instead of toxic pesticides for protecting their paddy fields from pest attack.
Farmers had to spend about Taka 300 to 350 for purchasing pesticides for one bigha of land, but they are now able to save money using the effective natural perching method, said Ten Mong Rakhain, Abdul Jabbar, Rahim Talukdar, farmers of Nishanbaria village.
Fisheries officer Bongkim Chandra Biswas said due to rampant use of toxic pesticide for the last couple of years the ecology is now under threat. Consequently many indigenous species of fish have already disappeared and some other are now on the verge of extinction.
In order to get rid of the adverse situation, field level officers of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) are motivating the farmers to apply the eco-friendly perching method and the farmers have already got good results out of using the method during the current Boro season.
DAE official sources said, perching is a natural pest management method of paddy which requires erection of some branches of trees, like ‘T’ structures with either bamboo stick or dry jute stick on the paddy field. In such way the perching structure can be erected so that birds can sit on it comfortably and catch insects from the paddy plants.
Expressing satisfaction, Altaf Hossain farmer of Kazirabad village, under Betagi upazila told BSS that earlier the farmers could not think of any alternative way to control pest except pesticide, but DAE showed them that pest can also be controlled naturally without using any insecticide.
“I got remarkable results after using perching method on two bighas of paddy field,” said Abdur Rouf, another farmer of Kalibari village under Amtali upazila. Witnessing his success many farmers of his area have also shown interest in adopting the method, said Md. Shah Alom, Amtali upazila Agriculture Extension Officer.
Deputy Director of DAE Lutfor Rahman said they have no way but to promote such natural method to protect the soil fertility and ecological balance which are now under serious threat due to indiscriminate uses of pesticides.
They are trying their best to bring all the paddy field of the district under perching method so that the farmers can produce paddy without applying insecticides, he added.
