Staff Correspondent, Rangpur :
The potato growers of Rangpur district are worried as the farming of the popular vegetable is facing serious setback across the district this season due to severe attack of late blight disease.
Expressing disappointment potato cultivators of the region alleged that they gave their best efforts this season to get expected yield of the produce as well as impressive profit. But their hopes might not be fulfilled as potato fields at different areas have been affected by late blight disease. The production of the crop might be affected due to the disease which is gradually turning acute across the region.
The disease occurred mainly due to severe cold and foggy weather, fluctuation in temperature.
Jobed Mia, a potato grower of village Tilakpara of Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur said that he has cultivated the crop on one bigha of land this year but a major portion of the land got affected by the disease. As per suggestion of experts, he sprayed medicine on the field repeatedly to protect the remaining crop, he further said.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources said concerned officials have been given necessary instructions to suggest the potato cultivators which medicine to use and how to apply them appropriately to combat the adverse situation.
Brickfields on agricultural land : Brickfields on agricultural land are being set up rampantly in Rangpur district while the authority concerned seems to be oblivious to the matter.
Sources alleged that every year a good number of new brickfields are set up on agricultural lands at different areas under the region, posing serious threat to cultivable lands as well as the environment. There are some 185 brickfields in 8 upazilas of the district. Most of the brickfield owners are running their business illegally violating the existing law, sources alleged.Due to rampant erection of brickfields on arable lands scores of trees including fruit bearing ones have perished and yield of many crops has decreased in recent years under the region.
According to the Brick Manufacturing and Kiln Establishment (Control) Act 2013, nobody can set up a brick kiln on agricultural land.
The Act imposes prohibition on establishment of brick kilns within the boundaries of several areas, like residential, preserved or commercial area, City Corporation, Municipality or Upazila headquarters, public or privately owned forests, sanctuary, gardens or wetlands, agricultural land, Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) and areas adjacent to these areas.
Local farmers alleged in many occasions they are forced to give their lands on lease for long time to the owner of the kiln as they are politically and economically powerful and influential.
Nur Alom, owner of a brick field at Nishbetganj area in Sadar upazila said with the assistance of a section of dishonest officials of the district administration the owners of illegal brick kilns are running their business.
The potato growers of Rangpur district are worried as the farming of the popular vegetable is facing serious setback across the district this season due to severe attack of late blight disease.
Expressing disappointment potato cultivators of the region alleged that they gave their best efforts this season to get expected yield of the produce as well as impressive profit. But their hopes might not be fulfilled as potato fields at different areas have been affected by late blight disease. The production of the crop might be affected due to the disease which is gradually turning acute across the region.
The disease occurred mainly due to severe cold and foggy weather, fluctuation in temperature.
Jobed Mia, a potato grower of village Tilakpara of Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur said that he has cultivated the crop on one bigha of land this year but a major portion of the land got affected by the disease. As per suggestion of experts, he sprayed medicine on the field repeatedly to protect the remaining crop, he further said.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources said concerned officials have been given necessary instructions to suggest the potato cultivators which medicine to use and how to apply them appropriately to combat the adverse situation.
Brickfields on agricultural land : Brickfields on agricultural land are being set up rampantly in Rangpur district while the authority concerned seems to be oblivious to the matter.
Sources alleged that every year a good number of new brickfields are set up on agricultural lands at different areas under the region, posing serious threat to cultivable lands as well as the environment. There are some 185 brickfields in 8 upazilas of the district. Most of the brickfield owners are running their business illegally violating the existing law, sources alleged.Due to rampant erection of brickfields on arable lands scores of trees including fruit bearing ones have perished and yield of many crops has decreased in recent years under the region.
According to the Brick Manufacturing and Kiln Establishment (Control) Act 2013, nobody can set up a brick kiln on agricultural land.
The Act imposes prohibition on establishment of brick kilns within the boundaries of several areas, like residential, preserved or commercial area, City Corporation, Municipality or Upazila headquarters, public or privately owned forests, sanctuary, gardens or wetlands, agricultural land, Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) and areas adjacent to these areas.
Local farmers alleged in many occasions they are forced to give their lands on lease for long time to the owner of the kiln as they are politically and economically powerful and influential.
Nur Alom, owner of a brick field at Nishbetganj area in Sadar upazila said with the assistance of a section of dishonest officials of the district administration the owners of illegal brick kilns are running their business.
