200 Jamalpur farmers grow pesticide-free green chilli

JAMALPUR, Feb 25 (BSS): A good number of farmers of Islampur upazila of the district produced pesticide-free green chilli this year.

The Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) in assistance with the CRG (Competitive Research Grant) sub-project and National Agricultural Technology Project-2 motivated farmers to grow green chilli without using harmful pesticide in a char area of Shingvanga village on the bank of the Jamuna river in the upazila.

Under the project 'Survey, monitoring and eco-friendly integrated management of major insect pests and diseases in chilli at Jamalpur region', a total of 200 farmers cultivated green chilli on 75 bighas of land in the upazila.

The farmers sowed local variety of 'Balizury green chilli' seed in their field by applying Integrated Pest Management (IPM) method, expecting good yield of chilli. They also used sex-pheromone trap and colour trap to kill harmful insecticides instead of pesticide, RARS officials said on Sunday.

Local farmer Ziaul Haque said, "We used 30 to 32 types of pesticide on green chilli field in lacking of proper knowledge. This year, we used only antifungal for two times.

Another farmer Dudu Sheikh at the same village said, "I spent Tk 15,000 to cultivate chilli one Bigha of land."

He expects a net profit of Tk 30,000 to Tk 50,000. He further said due to adaptation of IPM method, the production cost has been decreased. "Moreover, we are getting poison-free chilli", he added.

Principal scientific officer of RARS Dr Md Abdul Mannan said indiscriminate use of pesticide not only pollutes crops but also kills many friendly insecticides.

He said farmers should know as to how to kill harmful insects without using pesticide.