Farmers of the Barind region are being encouraged and habituated over using eco-friendly pest management in their transplanted paddy field.
During the current season, many farmers have adopted parching method which contributes a lot towards lessening demands of chemical pesticides.
District and upazila offices of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) are extending technical support to the farmers for coping with this method.
Zaidur Rahman, a farmer of Karnahar village under Paba upazila, has cultivated Aman paddy on 35 bigha of land. He has started using parching method. “Parching method has multidimensional benefits,” he said.
Monzur-E-Mawla, Upazila Agriculture Officer, said light-trap and parching are environmentally sound method for detecting harmful insects especially Brown Plant Hopper (BPH).
Eco-friendly ‘light-trap’ method as an alternative to pesticides control getting popular among the farmers at different villages as they are attaining significant success in pest management on transplanted Aman paddy.
He said the low-cost method is helpful for maintaining ecological balance in the fields. The farmers are extremely enthusiastic in using the method because they are reaping benefit from it.
DAE officials have introduced the programme in the region to detect the harmful insects in the Aman fields and use the insecticides accordingly to save the crops.
“We have set up 4,073 light traps and imparted training to more than 10,000 farmers in the region in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabgonj districts,” said SM Mustafizur Rahman, Zonal Additional Director of DAE.
The farmers set the light-traps at night with kerosene lamp, charger light or electric bulb and place a pot with detergent or kerosene mixed water under the light. The light attracts the insects that die after falling into the pot. If harmful insects are found, experts advise the farmers to adopt effective pest control method.
Normally farmers apply costly insecticides in the paddy fields, killing all the insects including the useful insects, and causing environmental degradation. But when the harmful insects are detected through the light-trap method, they can save money by applying a cheaper insecticide to kill that particular pest as per the expert’s suggestion, reports BSS.
Over 0.339 million hectares of land have been brought under Aman cultivation in the region this year.
Agriculturist Rahman said low cost light-trap programme has been promoted among the farmers for the last couple of years to manage pest effectively.
This year they are prioritising the programme.
DAE high officials recently visited different parts of the district to see the management of BPH through the light trap method.
“During September and October months, farmers face serious pest attack. They need to spend a lot to get rid of all insects. With the light-trap and parching they can control harmful insects and take proper pest control measure, which is cheaper and environment-friendly,” he added.
This method has reduced indiscriminate use of pesticides by 50 per cent and the farmers are also learning to identify useful insects in the paddy fields.