Tanore, Oct 02 (V7N) – Farmers in Tanore upazila are grappling with a severe outbreak of pests and leaf blight disease in their Aman paddy fields, made worse by the absence of field-level support from agricultural extension workers. The infestation has struck during the crucial peak growing period, raising fears of significant crop losses.
 
A survey across Madaripur, Hatishail, Chhaoir, and Hatindama villages under Kamargaon Union Parishad found that most fields are heavily infested, with farmers reporting little success despite repeated use of pesticides purchased from private dealers.
 
Local cultivator Emdadul Haque from Madaripur said farmers have faced mounting challenges this season, including erratic weather, a fertilizer shortage compared to last year, and now a widespread surge of pests, sheath rot, and blight. “This outbreak during the peak growing period has left us deeply worried about the yield,” he said.
 
This year’s Aman cultivation target for Tanore upazila is 22,300 hectares, with farmers planting both local varieties and high-yielding rice strains such as Guti Swarna, Suman Swarna, BRRI Dhan-49, BRRI Dhan-51, BRRI Dhan-75, BRRI Dhan-87, BRRI Dhan-95, and BRRI Dhan-103.
 
Field visits to Haridebpur, Sumaspur, Kamargaon, Kalma, Panchandor, and Soronjai confirmed the severity of the situation. In several patches, leaves of the paddy plants were visibly reddish and collapsing due to disease.
 
With little to no official guidance, farmers said they are relying on pesticide dealers for advice, often applying chemicals by guesswork. Some reported minor improvements, while others complained of no results, alleging difficulties in distinguishing between genuine and counterfeit pesticides. “We cannot tell real pesticides from fake ones because of the flashy packaging,” said Rabiul Islam, a farmer from Chanduria, expressing frustration at the absence of agricultural officers in the fields.
 
Attempts to reach Tanore Upazila Agriculture Officer Saifullah Ahmed for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls.
 
END/MRA/SMA/