Farmers in distress as pest infestation ruins boro crops

Farmers in Melandaha upazila of Jamalpur are facing a devastating blow just days before the boro harvest, as a severe outbreak of brown planthoppers, locally known as "current poka", has hit their fields, causing widespread damage.

The infestation is drying out paddy plants at a rapid pace. Farmers say despite spraying insecticides, they have seen little to no improvement, with the situation worsening in some cases.

From a distance, the fields appear ripe, but on closer inspection, the panicles are often found to be hollow, lacking any grain. Within two to three days of the pest attack, the plants turn reddish and begin to dry up.

During a visit to Chhabilapur village in Ghosherpara union, this correspondent found several fields already rotting. Many farmers, fearing further damage, have started harvesting their crops prematurely.

"Farming is my only source of income. This pest has wiped out everything. I don't know how I'll support my family now," said Anis Mondol, a farmer from Chhabilapur.

Manik Mia, a farmer from Banshibeltail, said, "I cultivated paddy on six bighas of land. All of it is affected by current poka. Spraying insecticides didn't help, if anything, the plants dried up even more."

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), boro paddy was cultivated on 20,150 hectares of land in Melandaha upazila this year. Officials now fear significant damage due to the pest infestation.

Zakia Sultana, deputy director of the Jamalpur DAE, said, "The pest that farmers are calling 'current poka' is actually the brown planthopper. It feeds on the sap at the base of paddy plants, which causes them to dry out."

She said local agricultural officers have been dispatched to the affected areas in response to the outbreak.