Brown hopper attack worries Sirajganj paddy growers

SIRAJGANJ, Nov 04 (UNB): Paddy farmers in Kamarkhanda upazila in the district are worried over the recent pest attack including brown plant hoppers.

Despite the farmers using a variety of pesticides in their field, they have failed to control the pest attack.

Pest attacks have turned hundreds of bighas of Aman crops into brown, a good number of farmers said.

Talking to the news agency, Rajjak Master and Saddam Hossain of Hatgarabari village said they have lost hope following the severe pest attack just prior to the onset of winter.

They are instead gearing up to face huge losses and that means they will fail to pay back the loans they have taken from the local influential people this season.

Faruk Ahmed, another farmer of the same village said the pest affected his seven bighas of Aman field. He used different types of pesticides but failed to tackle the attack.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Anwar Hossain Shadat said farmers in the upazila have brought 5,270 hectares of land under Aman farming this season.

Many farmers in different areas have been affected by the pest attack even before the start of the severe cold.

The Department of Agriculture Extension officials are suggesting the affected farmers go to the fields and are hopeful the pest attack can be brought under control soon.