Late blight disease dampens potato prospects for Gaibandha,Chandpur

In contrast, Lalmonirhat farmers dreaming of a total crop success

FE Team | Published: February 03, 2024 21:27:51

OUR CORRESPONDENTS
Getting fairly better prices than usual last season, farmers leaned towards potato cultivation on a larger scale this year but widespread attack of late blight disease in their fields shattered their hope even for a satisfactory yield.
In Gaibandha and Chandpur districts, farmers are now in fear of incurring heavy losses let alone getting higher profit due to the colossal damage to their crops caused by the fungal disease and intense cold associated with fog.
On the contrary, farmers of the tuber crop in Lalmonirhat district stay hopeful about a complete crop success as the weather condition there has started improving.
Our Gaibandha correspondent reports: The potato farmers of Gaibandha are in a big apprehension of damage to their crop for the persistent cold weather.
Dense fog amid intense cold for the past few days has rotted green leaves of the potato plants, a symptom that signifies attack of 'late blight' disease.
Farmers are trying to protect the crops by sprinkling fungicides to prevent rotting of the potato plants.
During a recent visit, it was found that green leaves and tips of the potato plants have rotted in cold and thick fog.
For the situation, there prevails a fear among the growers that their potato fields will be totally destroyed.
Therefore, the farmers are continuing relentless efforts to protect the crops.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Gaibandha, potato has been cultivated on 11, 152 hectares of land in 7 upazilas of the district in the current season.
Of the total, 270 hectares are in Sadar upazila, 40 hectares in Fulchhari upazila, 268 hectares in Saghata upazila, 2,200 hectares in Sadullapur upazila, 1,050 hectares in Sundarganj upazila, 6,104 hectares in Gobindaganj upazila and 1,220 hectares in Palashbari upazila.
Abdur Rashid, a farmer of Gaibandha Sadar Upazila said, "I have cultivated potato on a vast tract of land. Due to cold weather and thick fog for the past few days, the disease has attacked my field but there has been some improvement with the application of pesticides on the advice of the agriculture officer."
Deputy Director of the DAE, Gaibandha Md Khorshed Alam said, "Late blight disease has occurred due to unfavorable weather condition. For this we need extra care. And we are always in touch with the farmers. We are giving various advices to the farmers at the field level to control the disease."
He assured, "There is no risk of crop damage. The problem will be solved only when the hostile weather is over."
Our Chandpur Correspondent says: Severe cold and chilly winds from northern side and prolonged foggy atmosphere have been prevailing for the past few weeks in the district affecting vast areas of potato fields, with outbreak of late blight disease.
While visiting the rural areas, it was observed that potato fields are being immensely affected by the fungal disease under the influence of chilly weather and prolonged foggy atmosphere.
Haimchar Upazila Agriculture Officer Shakil Khandaker said, "We have advised the farmers to take precautionary steps to protect the potato fields from the adverse impact of chilly weather condition."
Deputy Director Dr Shafayet Ahammad Siddiqui said, "Potato fields on 7,500 hectares of land across the district will be partially affected by late blight due to the adverse impact of severe cold and foggy weather."
He added that they have asked the farmers to take extra caution to save their crops and seedbeds from the scourge of severe cold and foggy atmosphere.
Our Lalmonirhat Correspondent adds, farmers in five upazilas of the district, who are cultivating potato as one of the main crops of the region for long due to its favourable climatic condition and soil, are now upbeat with confidence of getting a fairly good yield of the tuber crop this year.
Sadekul Islam, a farmer in Airport area, said after taking a piece of land on lease form other farmers, he is cultivating potato. This year he cultivated potato on 37 bighas of land in the Airport area. He cultivated Red Stick variety this time.
He also said last ten days the weather condition was very bad. Potato plants were slightly affected by thick fog with severe cold in some areas but sunlight is now visible after morning which is good for potato plants.
He cultivated potato also in another cropland measuring 80 bighas in Doikhawa area of Hatibandha upazila of the district.
He hoped that good yield of potato will come this season.
If the present weather condition continues, production will be good.
At the same time, he said that excessive use of chemicals and antibiotics against "cold injury" may cause less production.
He further said that farmers who kept his produced potato in stores last year got a handsome profit for it.
He also made a good income from selling his own potato. So he cultivated the tuber crop on more areas of land this year.
Ekramul and another farmer of Mohendronogor area said that the number of potato farmers is higher than last year because of its good return.
He said that Tk40,000 would be needed for producing potato on one bigha of land up to the harvest level this year.
He is expecting 80-100 mounds of potato from one bigha of land.
According to the DAE, Lalmonirhat, farmers have cultivated potato on 6,400 hectares of land in the district this year.
Many farmers who cultivated early variety potato have already earned a good profit at the beginning of winter.
Presently one kilogram potato is selling at Tk40-60 in the local market.
Hamidur Rahaman, deputy director the DAE, Lalmonirhat said, "Last year, the price of potato was very high and farmers and stockists got a good return from potato. So this year farmers have cultivated the same in more areas of land."
"The weather condition is also favourable though dense fog and cold wave slightly affected potato plants in some areas", he added.
He said that potato plants on only 0.37 hectares of land have been affected by late blight in five upazilas.
He further said, "We have given advice to the farmers in time to protect their potato fields and they have taken steps accordingly. Already weather condition has improved and if it continue so, potato production will be satisfactory".
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