Late blight attack on potatoes worries farmers in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Jan 13: The potato farmers in different areas of Baghmara upazila have become frustrated over the attack of late blight disease in the potato plants.
But, the local agricultural office sources said, it would not affect the potato production. In this connection, they suggested the farmers to use different pesticides.
Sources at the Department of Agriculture Extinction (DEA) in Baghmara upazila said, the farmers cultivated potato on around 13,000 hectares of land across the upazila this season against the target of 8,000 ha of land. They are showing more interest in potato cultivation this year as they got quick profit in the previous year, the sources added.
Most of the farmers here cultivated cardinal and diamond varieties of potato while some cultivated 'Lal Pakri' and obscure varieties in their fields, sources added.
While talking with The Daily Observer, Idris Ali, a potato grower of Balia village in the upazila said, "I cultivated potato in three-bigh land spending Tk 60,000 to 70,000. But, the plants have been affected with late blight disease. Though I used different pesticides according to the advice of agriculture officials, I did not get any positive result."
Abu Taleb and Asaduzzaman of Bolidiapara village said, "We have cultivated potato on five bighas of land but the plants have been affected with late blight. We applied different pesticides but there was no result. We are now apprehending loss."
  Aslam, another potato grower of Mosmoil village under Baghmara upazila said, "I cultivated potato on 40-bigha leased land spending Tk 30,000 to 32,000 in per bigha. But the plants have been affected with late blight disease. I used different pesticides but I am yet to get any fruitful result."
Another potato grower Rafiqul Islam of Hamirkutsa village said, "I have leased four bighas of land for potato cultivation this year. But, the plants have been affected with late blight. Though I used pesticides I did not get any result."
Upazila Agriculture Officer Razibur Rahman said, "Due to dense fog, the potato fields have been affected with late blight disease in the early growth stage. It has become a major problem in potato fields across the upazila."
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the DAE in Rajshahi Deb Dulal Dhali visited the affected fields, talked with the farmers and suggested them to spray 6 grams of potash mixing in one litre of water.