Panchbibi (Joypurhat) Correspondent :
Farmers have lost their way due to rat attack in Aman paddy field in Panchbibi of Joypurhat. Rats are cutting the roots of the paddy trees. There is no way to control the rat infestation. Many farmers use locally made funnel traps and pesticides, but are not able to protect the aman fields from rat infestation. As a result, the farmers are fearing that the target of aman paddy will not be met.
It is learned that the target for aman cultivation has been set in about 20,150 hectares of land in eight unions and one municipality of the upazila this season. Although the floods have affected different parts of the northern region, the floods have not had much effect in this region. Rats are cutting and destroying the paddy fields. About 70-80 percent of the aman fields in the area have been attacked by rats. Even using locally made funnel traps and pesticides are not working.
Farmer Fazlu alias Shukta of West Kutuhara village in Bagjana union of the upazila said he planted aman paddy in four bighas of land this time. Aman paddy of about two bighas of land has been cut into rats. He complained that he did not rind when he went to the office of the Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Bagjana Union Parishad. Abdul Quader, a farmer from Dharanji village of the upazila, said, “I am worried about the way the rats are cutting the roots of paddy.” Jiban Krishna, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Dharanji Union, said, “We are always advising the farmers at the field level.” He said that the only way to protect the aman fields from rat attack is to make the farmers more aware. Upazila Agriculture Officer Lutfar Rahman said rats are very clever animals. Farmers have to resort to cunning to kill rats. Besides, it is possible to kill rats by spraying insecticide called Sem Kaf or Nalirate. Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers are working round the clock at the field level to advise the farmers on the eradication of rats.
Farmers have lost their way due to rat attack in Aman paddy field in Panchbibi of Joypurhat. Rats are cutting the roots of the paddy trees. There is no way to control the rat infestation. Many farmers use locally made funnel traps and pesticides, but are not able to protect the aman fields from rat infestation. As a result, the farmers are fearing that the target of aman paddy will not be met.
It is learned that the target for aman cultivation has been set in about 20,150 hectares of land in eight unions and one municipality of the upazila this season. Although the floods have affected different parts of the northern region, the floods have not had much effect in this region. Rats are cutting and destroying the paddy fields. About 70-80 percent of the aman fields in the area have been attacked by rats. Even using locally made funnel traps and pesticides are not working.
Farmer Fazlu alias Shukta of West Kutuhara village in Bagjana union of the upazila said he planted aman paddy in four bighas of land this time. Aman paddy of about two bighas of land has been cut into rats. He complained that he did not rind when he went to the office of the Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Bagjana Union Parishad. Abdul Quader, a farmer from Dharanji village of the upazila, said, “I am worried about the way the rats are cutting the roots of paddy.” Jiban Krishna, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Dharanji Union, said, “We are always advising the farmers at the field level.” He said that the only way to protect the aman fields from rat attack is to make the farmers more aware. Upazila Agriculture Officer Lutfar Rahman said rats are very clever animals. Farmers have to resort to cunning to kill rats. Besides, it is possible to kill rats by spraying insecticide called Sem Kaf or Nalirate. Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers are working round the clock at the field level to advise the farmers on the eradication of rats.
