Late blight disease jeopardises potato output in Rangpur

RANGPUR, Jan 23: Potato growers of Rangpur district are apprehensive about the output of the most popular vegetable during the current season as potato fields at different upazilas under the district have been affected due to late blight disease.  
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources, some 52,185 hectares of land have been brought under potato cultivation in 8 upazilas of the district this year but the cultivators are worried as they might not get expected yield if immediate steps are not taken to combat the disease.  
 Sources said about 30 to 35 percent of the total cultivated land has already been affected and the affected areas are increasing day by day. The farmers are failing to get rid of the menace even after using pesticide frequently, farmers alleged.    
According to a number of sources the disease look like sheet blight or late blight that develops from fungus causing huge damage to the potato field.
Local farmers alleged that the authority concerned did not take preventive measures to check the disease.
Joynal Miah (55), a potato grower at Andarkota village under Mithapukur upazila of the district told The Financial Express that he has cultivated potato on 5 bighas of land but 35-40 percent of his land have been affected due to late blight disease. He sprayed pesticide repeatedly but got no result, he lamented.
Azizur Rahman (60), of Chikli Paschim Chowdhurypara under Taraganj upazila said, he cultivated potato on 2 bighas of land this season with the hope to recoup the loss he incurred last season.  But around 30 percent of his fields have been damaged owing to the disease. Although he sprayed pesticide several times but could not control the intensity of the disease.  
Talking to The Financial Express a number of farmers of the affected areas alleged as pure pesticides are not available in the market they are often deceived by adulterated ones with little or no effect, causing financial losses. If the situation continues for long, the total production may decline significantly this year, they apprehended.
Deputy Director of DAE Rangpur Feroz Ahmed said that normally late blight or any other fungus related diseases are seasonal phenomenon which infects potato plants 40 to 50 days after developing seeds in the fields and there is nothing new in this season. They have already instructed concerned officials to demonstrate before the farmers what pesticide to use and how to apply them appropriately to overcome the adverse circumstances, he added.