Rangpur Correspondent :
Gourd growers at different upazilas in Kurigram district are worried as the cultivation of the vegetable is severely been affected on account of root rotting disease.
The disease is causing massive damage to many gourd fields at different villages under Kurigram Sadar and Rajarhat upazila before the eyes of the helpless farmers. It decomposes the plants and withers the leaves of plants, farmers alleged.
According to sources the root rotting disease caused by bacterial attack is spreading in fresh areas and wreaking havoc, though the farmers made repeated attempts to control the menace by spraying medicine frequently.
A number of farmers alleged that if necessary steps are not taken immediately they might not achieve expected yield of the produce during the current season.
They also alleged that as pure medicine is not available in the market they are often deceived by purchasing adulterated ones with little or no effect, causing financial losses.
Mokles Miah (50), a farmer of Khaihaga area under sadar upazila said that he cultivated gourd on 1 bigha of land this season with the hope to earn good profit. But his hopes got shattered when he found 50 percent of his field got damaged because of the disease.
Badshah (45), another gourd grower of Mirerbari village in Rajarhat upazila said his 30 out of 45 decimal of land have been damaged owing to the disease. Leaves of plants are getting dry and roots are rotting rapidly. He sprayed medicine several times but got no benefit, he said.
Kurigram Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Mizanur Rashid said, the farmers are being given necessary advices to combat the disease. He also advised the farmers to reach air and sunlight to the root of gourd plants in order to get rid of the problem.
Gourd growers at different upazilas in Kurigram district are worried as the cultivation of the vegetable is severely been affected on account of root rotting disease.
The disease is causing massive damage to many gourd fields at different villages under Kurigram Sadar and Rajarhat upazila before the eyes of the helpless farmers. It decomposes the plants and withers the leaves of plants, farmers alleged.
According to sources the root rotting disease caused by bacterial attack is spreading in fresh areas and wreaking havoc, though the farmers made repeated attempts to control the menace by spraying medicine frequently.
A number of farmers alleged that if necessary steps are not taken immediately they might not achieve expected yield of the produce during the current season.
They also alleged that as pure medicine is not available in the market they are often deceived by purchasing adulterated ones with little or no effect, causing financial losses.
Mokles Miah (50), a farmer of Khaihaga area under sadar upazila said that he cultivated gourd on 1 bigha of land this season with the hope to earn good profit. But his hopes got shattered when he found 50 percent of his field got damaged because of the disease.
Badshah (45), another gourd grower of Mirerbari village in Rajarhat upazila said his 30 out of 45 decimal of land have been damaged owing to the disease. Leaves of plants are getting dry and roots are rotting rapidly. He sprayed medicine several times but got no benefit, he said.
Kurigram Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Mizanur Rashid said, the farmers are being given necessary advices to combat the disease. He also advised the farmers to reach air and sunlight to the root of gourd plants in order to get rid of the problem.
