RANGPUR, Aug 31, 2021 (BSS) - Adoption of eco-friendly pests' management

methods are expanding every year while farming Aman rice largely benefiting
farmers in Rangpur agriculture region.

  Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers
are mostly applying live and dead perching and light trap methods to produce
more hygienic Aman rice, reducing use of insecticides at reduced costs.

  "Farmers are reaping enormous benefits by adopting primitive perching and
light trap methods in preventing pests' attacks on growing Aman rice crop
plants," Agriculturist Bidhu Bhusan Ray, Additional Director of the DAE,
Rangpur region, said.

  Adopting perching methods, farmers have already set up bamboo poles on 4.12
lakh hectares of growing Aman rice fields out of totally cultivated land area
of 6.11 lakh hectares till Monday in all five districts of the region.

  "Farmers have already brought 1.61 lakh hectares of land under the live and
2.51 lakh hectares of land under dead perching methods while cultivating Aman
rice as the process continues in the region," Ray said.

   Meanwhile, farmers have also set up light traps on 280 hectares of Aman
rice fields, including permanent light traps on 50 hectares and temporary
light traps on 230 hectares of their croplands so far in the region.

  Farmers are expanding adoption of these low-cost, effective and eco-
friendly methods in saving Aman rice plants from pests' attack at different
stages to get more hygienic rice output following motivational and training
activities being conducted by the DAE.

  Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid said random uses of pesticides are threatening
the ecosystems causing extinction of many indigenous species of fishes,
beneficial insects and common birds.

  As a result of indiscriminate use of pesticides and insecticide while
farming various crops, many species of fishes, beneficial insects and common
birds are already on the verge of extinction.

  "Farmers generally erect bamboo poles on Aman rice fields at a particular
distance so that birds could perch on the poles in search of food and eat
pests which are harmful for rice plants to protect the crop reducing use of
pesticides," Rashid said.

  Talking to BSS, farmers Moslem Uddin, Manik Miah and Mofizar Rahman of
different villages in Rangpur said they have understood the importance of
perching and light trap methods which minimise cost of insecticides and save
the environment.

  Farmers Ariful Haque Batul of village Najirdigar In Rangpur Sadar said
birds perch on the poles and eat harmful pests.

  "Currently, farmers know how to protect their growing Aman rice plants from
pests' attack and save money using effective natural methods of perching and
light traps," Batul said, adding that application of these methods have
really been productive and profitable.

  Farmers Mostafizur Rahman, Solaiman Ali and Rahim Uddin Mondal of Badarganj
upazila in Rangpur said many birds perch on the poles on their growing Aman
rice fields to eat insects protecting the tender rice plants to ensure
healthier growth.

  Farmers Abdus Salam of Rajarhat upazila in Kurigram and Didarul Alam of
Dimla upazila in Nilphamari said they have been using perching and light trap
methods on Aman rice fields and getting huge benefits for the last five
years.