Lentil farmers frustrated over massive virus attack at Tanore

RAJSHAHI, Jan 24: The lentil farmers of Tanore upazila of the district have become frustrated over massive virus attack on their lentil fields.
For this virus attack, the lentil plants are being rotten; this disease has spread out at seven unions and two municipals in the upazila.
Despite using various pesticides in the fields, the farmers have not got any fruitful result. For this reason, many farmers are now very much tensed as they have to face a huge loss this year, farmers said.
According to sources at the Upazila Agriculture Office, the farmers here have brought 1,300 hectares of land under lentil cultivation, having bumper production coupled with fair market prices in the previous year. But due to unfavourable weather, all the lentil fields have been affected with rotten virus suddenly this year.
Though many farmers have used various medicines and pesticides in the fields, but they are unable to check this virus attack. Farmers have to use high-standard pesticide to control this virus, the sources said.
While talking to The Daily Observer, Abdus Sattar of Pachandor village in the upazila said that he cultivated lentil in his five bighas of land in this current year. Due to unfavourable weather, suddenly all the lentil field have been affected with the rotten disease.
Under this situation, he has become very worried as he has to face a huge loss in this year. He expected to get a bumper lentil production in this year, but it would not be possible for virus attack, he added.
Abul Sonar, a lentil grower of Talondo village in  the upazila, said that he also cultivated five bighas of land this year. He took care of his lentil field regularly but rotten virus attacked on his land. Meanwhile, he used two types of pesticide on his land but no effect.
 When contacted, Upazila Agricultural Officer Shoriful Islam, said "To protest the virus attack and create awareness among the farmers, we have made loudspeaker announcement and distributed leaflets in the affected areas in the upazila".
"Our officers carry on various checking programmes and suggest medicines and pesticides to the affected farmers in this connection", the officer added.