Jamalpur Correspondent :
Ropa Aman BR-49 variety of paddy has been damaged by pest attack in Melandha upazila of Jamalpur. The fungus has spread to every village in 11 unions including two municipalities of the upazila. The fungus infects paddy as soon as it is ingested. At one time the whole sheaf of infected rice was destroyed. Locally this fungus is called Laksirgu.
According to the Agriculture Office, the target for transplanting Aman paddy this year was 16,000 hectares. 17,800 hectares have been cultivated, which is more than the target? Due to the favorable environment of nature, agriculture office and awareness of farmers, bumper yield of paddy is expected this time.
Dulal Uddin (35), a farmer from Sadhupur village, said, “One bigha of my paddy has been completely affected. The disease has also appeared in some pajama paddy of other farmers.
Jaban Ali, 42, a farmer in Mahmudpur, said the fungus first infested a paddy in the top of a raw-ripe paddy plant. In a few days, the whole sheaf of paddy turns black. Eats the seal of rice. Harunur Rashid (50), a farmer from Shampur, said that even after using pesticides, there is no cure.
Upazila Agriculture Officer agriculturist Abdullah Al Faisal said, BR-49 variety of paddy has been cultivated in 5,000 hectares. Lakshirgu fungus has infected some 70 hectares. Remedy is available by applying pesticides as soon as the fungus is infected. If pure seeds can be ensured, it is possible to protect the crop from various diseases.
Saiful Azam, Seed Certification Officer of District Agriculture Department said that, this is a national disease of crop allergy. Even if the seeds are purified, the crop will be much safer. Can all seed purification system of BADC be ensured? In response to such a question, he said that, there is no system to purify all the seeds. The cost of this refinement is also not high.
Farmers and the conscious community have emphasized on refined and marketed seeds of all crops including BADC.
