Potato growers take a hit from late blight disease in Rangpur

RANGPUR, Jan 3: The potato growers of Rangpur district are worried as the farming of the popular vegetable is facing serious setback across the district this season due to severe attack of late blight disease.

Expressing disappointment potato cultivators of the region alleged that they gave their best efforts this season to get expected yield of the produce as well as impressive profit. But their hopes might not be fulfilled as potato fields at different areas have been affected by late blight disease. The production of the crop might be affected due to the disease which is gradually turning acute across the region.

Farmers also alleged that they are being compelled to use different varieties of medicines to control the intensity of the disease, eventually production cost will be increased to a great extent.

Sources said the disease look like sheet blight or late blight that develops from fungus causing huge damage to the potato field.

The disease occurred mainly due to severe cold and foggy weather, fluctuation in temperature.

Jobed Mia, a potato grower of village Tilakpara of Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur told The Financial Express that he has cultivated the crop on one bigha of land this year but a major portion of the land got affected by the disease. As per suggestion of experts, he sprayed medicine on the field repeatedly to protect the remaining crop, he further said.

Talking to this FE correspondent some farmers alleged that substandard and low quality medicines have flooded the markets. For this reason they are often deceived by purchasing such medicines with little or no effect, causing financial losses.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources said concerned officials have been given necessary instructions to suggest the potato cultivators which medicine to use and how to apply them appropriately to combat the adverse situation.

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