Mustard and maize seedlings on vast tracts of land in different areas of Tarash upazila in Sirajganj have been badly affected by pest attack during the early cultivation period.
Two pests locally known as ‘Katui’ and ‘Lituria’ are causing extensive damage to the young plants of mustard and maize.
Growers cannot control the menace even after spraying pesticides on the fields of the cereal crops.
They alleged that despite being informed, the local office of the Department of Agriculture Extension was not taking any effective steps to prevent the pest attack either by giving them technological support or providing necessary advice, reports UNB. The situation comes as a great concern for those involved in vegetable trade as well alongside the growers in the district.
Sources at the DAE office in Sirajganj said maize and mustard were cultivated on about 14,000 hectares of land in Tarash upazila this season.
But, ‘Katui’ and ‘Lituria’ insects are destroying roots of the young plants of maize and mustard, leading to their death. The worst affected fields are in Makarshon, Dighi Saguna, Dobila, Ghargram, Kundael, Kohita, Kamarsion and Magura Binod areas.
Farmers in those areas said they sprayed pesticides on the pest infested vegetables on many acres of land.
But insect attack goes on unabated forcing a number of farmers to think about re-cultivating winter vegetables in their fields.
Asked about the measures to check the pest attack, Tarash upazila agriculture officer Mizanur Rahman said the ‘Katui’ and ‘Lituria’ infested vegetable fields could be safe only if the plants could survive after three weeks of the attack.
