Farmers adopt perching method to prevent pest attack

BARGUNA, Apr 23 (BSS): The perching method in agriculture has gained popularity in six upazilas of the district.

The farmers of the areas are getting much interested in using the method instead of toxic pesticides for protecting their paddy fields from pest attack.

Farmers had to spend about Taka 300 to 350 for purchasing pesticides for one bigha of land, but they are now able to save money using the effective natural perching method, said Ten Mong Rakhain, Abdul Jabbar, Rahim Talukdar, farmers of Nishanbaria village.

Fisheries officer Bongkim Chandra Biswas said due to rampant use of toxic pesticide for the last couple of years the ecology is now under threat. Consequently many indigenous species of fish have already disappeared and some other are now on the verge of extinction.

In order to get rid of the adverse situation, field level officers of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) are motivating the farmers to apply the eco-friendly perching method and the farmers have already got good results out of using the method during the current Boro season.

DAE official sources said, perching is a natural pest management method of paddy which requires erection of some branches of trees, like 'T' structures with either bamboo stick or dry jute stick on the paddy field. In such way the perching structure can be erected so that birds can sit on it comfortably and catch insects from the paddy plants.