Perching method in paddy field gains popularity

NAOGAON, Oct 06: Perching method has gained much popularity among the farmers of Mohadevpur Upazila of the district in recent years as the technology is playing significant role in protecting the paddy field from pest attacks.

Sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said around 28,900 hectares of land have been brought under Aman cultivation in ten all unions of the Upazila this season against the official target of 27,305 hectares.

The sources said indiscriminate use of toxic chemical is threatening the ecology as some indigenous species of fish including many common birds have already become extinct while many others are on the verge of extinction.

In this context, the field level agriculture officers of DAE started motivational programme for the farmers to apply the parching method on the paddy field.

Following the programme, farmers erected bamboo poles in their paddy field at a particular distance.

In search of food, the birds perch on the poles and eat the pests that harm the growth of the rice plants.

Sub-assistant agriculture officer Muminul Islam informed the parching method at the paddy field has been proved up to 80 per cent effective.

Upazila agriculture officer Jahangir Alam Pramanik said most of the farmers of the area have already learned how to protect their rice field and save the money by using the effective natural method.

Peasants will get a bumper yield of Aman paddy this year if the weather condition remains favourable, he added.

ritushar.ru@gmail.com