The New Nation - Internet Edition

FARMERS of eight upazilas of Rangpur district may not achieve the production target of Aman crops this season due to attack of pests which may not remain confined to these areas. Agronomists identify inadequate use of potash and phosphate fertilisers as the main reason behind the attack. Due to inadequate use of the fertilisers, which were costlier, plants did not gain enough strength and maturity necessary to resist pest attacks. The farmers have been advised to use insecticides to prevent pest attacks.

Recovery of losses caused to standing crops by floods in the area depends much on a successful harvest of the next crop. But achievement of the target seems difficult because of late cultivation. Further damage of crops will be disastrous for the farmers. Measures to ensure the supply of quality insecticides must be taken to protect crops and prevent the spread of pest attacks to other areas. Farmers alleged that insecticides available in the district are adulterated and, as such, ineffective.

Indiscriminate use of pesticides however leads to larger pest-related yield losses than even not applying pesticides at all. A 1993 survey found pesticide use in the Philippines to cut rice productivity instead of improving it. Excessive use of pesticides often leads pests developing resistance to those. According to a survey conducted in January 2007, more than 47 percent of farmers use more pesticides than needed while 92 percent do not take any protective measures while handling the chemicals. At least twenty thousand people around the world die annually from exposure to the toxic chemicals. To avoid these harmful effects, strategy for location-specific integrated pest management (IPM) comprising of selective pesticide use, quality control and licensing should be adopted.