The production of Aman paddy is likely to be hampered due to attack of pests, commonly known as Current pest, in the fields of Ukhia upazila in Cox's Bazaar district.
Nazrul Islam, Upazila Assistant Agriculture Officer, has admitted the incident of attack of Current pest in the paddy field. People of the surrounding villages are being made conscious through distribution of leaflets and through mike.
According to Ukhia Upazila Agriculture Office, Aman paddy has been cultivated on 8,600 hectares of land of Ratnapalang, Haldiapalang, Rajapalang, Jaliapalang and Palangkhlai unions of the upazila during the current season. The farmers cultivated the crop through using improved seed, pesticides and irrigation.
Local farmers Farul Ahmed, Rafiqul islam and Babul informed, sheaves of paddy have started to emerge on the plants and even in some fields, paddy is being ripened but during this time some fields have been attacked with current pests which is making the farmers worried.
Some farmers informed, the current pest has been spread widely and alarmingly in some fields and was damaging standing crops.
Local pesticide dealers at Court Bazaar informed, hundreds of people were rushing daily at the pesticide shops to procure pesticide for controlling current diseases.
Farmers said, the entire paddy fields look burning following the impact of current pest attack and no pesticide was working to control the disease.
Nazrul Islam, Upazila Agriculture Officer informed, in consultation with Nikaruzzaman Chowdhury, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Ukhia, farmers are being made aware through microphones and distribution of leaflets of possible means of controlling the current disease.
He said, the menace of current pest attack increased due to impact of climate change and inclement weather condition.
