Rangpur farmers use pheromone trap to grow toxin-free vegetable

A grower shows an eco-friendly pheromone trap in his vegetable field in Jaigirhat area under Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur. — FE Photo

RANGPUR, Sept 23: Farmers of different areas under the district are showing their interest in farming toxic free vegetables for more profit.
Presently, poison free vegetables are being grown plentifully in the region using eco-friendly pheromone trap to prevent pest attack instead of harmful pesticides, sources said.
Due to lesser cost compared to pesticides, use of pheromone trap is on the rise across the region, sources further said.
This method has appeared as a blessing for the farmers against the backdrop of rampant use of toxic pesticides which cause harm to the ecological balance and public health, agriculture experts said.
Pheromone is a chemical substance that is produced by an insect. It usually serves as a stimulus for other individual of the same species. It is used in a certain product to attract and trap unwanted and harmful pests.
While visiting different areas including Jaigirhat, Ranipukur of Mithapukur upazila, Changmari, Paschim Madrain of Gangachara upazila, Char Thakurdas of Kawnia upazila and Nabdiganj of Pirgachha upazila under Rangpur district this correspondent found farmers have set up the pheromone traps at their vegetable fields.
The farmers are producing different vegetables like eggplant, teasel gourd, parble, bean, pumpkin, snake gourd, bitter gourd, cucumber, gourd, ladies finger etc using this eco-friendly method across the district.
Some vegetable cultivators said they are to spend a huge amount of money on insecticides on their vegetable fields. On the other hand they need to spend a nominal cost for using pheromone trap. So they prefer the method, they added.
Mazed Ali, a farmer of Jaigirhat area under Mithapukur upazila told The Financial Express that he cultivated teasel gourd on 30 decimals of land using pheromone traps this season. He has to clean the trap box each week. Now he is able to produce vegetables without using pesticide saving extra cost. He is also getting a good yield and handsome profit this season which is encouraging for others to follow, he added.
Sirajul Mia, another farmer of char Thakurdas village of Kawnia upazila said he cultivated eggplant this season using the pheromone trap. At least 10 traps have been set up in his land and he is producing chemical-free vegetables without using any pesticide and saving additional cost of farming, he added.
According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) official sources the pheromone traps are made of plastic bottles. A capsule containing female sex hormone of insects is hung in the plastic bottle with one inch of soap-water and two holes are created in the middle of the container for entrance of insects. Set in the crop field with two bamboo sticks, the bottle lures male insects which drown in the water and eventually die, sources added.
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