Mintu Abdur Rahman, Rangpur :
Farmers at different areas under Rangpur Agriculture Region are apprehensive about expected yield of Boro paddy during the current season as plants of paddy in many areas under the region have severely been affected by fungal disease called neck blast.
Most of the disease infested paddy fields have turned white and there is no rice inside the husk of the paddy. Department of Agricultural Extension sources said some 6,02,283 hectares of land have been brought under Boro cultivation in five districts under Rangpur Agriculture Region during the current season. But the farmers are disappointed as they might not get expected output if immediate steps are not taken to overcome the adverse circumstances.
Md Nazrul (58), a farmer of Char Nazirdaho village under Kawnia upazila in Rangpur district said that he has cultivated BR-28 variety of paddy on two acres land this year. But a major portion of his paddy field has been affected by the fungal disease. The ear of paddy turned white and there is no rice inside the husk. Although he sprayed medicine several times but could not control the intensity of disease attack, he added.
Rahim Basunia, a farmer of Choraikhola area in Nilphamari Sadar upazila said he is much concerned over the attack of disease on his one acre of land as he might fail to recover the production cost, he further said.
According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Hasarul Haque , official sources a similar situation is prevailing in all the five districts under the region, adding that the early and intense rainfalls in late March and in April created a congenial atmosphere for fungus to attack the necks of rice plants during the grain formative stage.
Farmers at different areas under Rangpur Agriculture Region are apprehensive about expected yield of Boro paddy during the current season as plants of paddy in many areas under the region have severely been affected by fungal disease called neck blast.
Most of the disease infested paddy fields have turned white and there is no rice inside the husk of the paddy. Department of Agricultural Extension sources said some 6,02,283 hectares of land have been brought under Boro cultivation in five districts under Rangpur Agriculture Region during the current season. But the farmers are disappointed as they might not get expected output if immediate steps are not taken to overcome the adverse circumstances.
Md Nazrul (58), a farmer of Char Nazirdaho village under Kawnia upazila in Rangpur district said that he has cultivated BR-28 variety of paddy on two acres land this year. But a major portion of his paddy field has been affected by the fungal disease. The ear of paddy turned white and there is no rice inside the husk. Although he sprayed medicine several times but could not control the intensity of disease attack, he added.
Rahim Basunia, a farmer of Choraikhola area in Nilphamari Sadar upazila said he is much concerned over the attack of disease on his one acre of land as he might fail to recover the production cost, he further said.
According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Hasarul Haque , official sources a similar situation is prevailing in all the five districts under the region, adding that the early and intense rainfalls in late March and in April created a congenial atmosphere for fungus to attack the necks of rice plants during the grain formative stage.
