Potato Beetle Infestation Forces Farmers to Discard Crops

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FARMERS IN GANGGACHARA, RANGPUR, FACE DEVASTATING LOSSES AS POTATO CROPS SUCCUMB TO PEST INFESTATION

Farmers in Gangachar, Rangpur, are confronting significant financial ruin as stored potatoes are being destroyed by the “sutli” pest. The infestation has forced many to discard the spoiled produce along roadsides and in canals and ponds, exacerbating an already challenging market with low potato prices.

Observations from several villages in Gangachar on Monday morning revealed widespread distress among farmers. They explained that early rains this year left some potatoes in the fields, causing them to become waterlogged. Upon storage at home, these potatoes became susceptible to the “sutli” pest.

The Upazila Agriculture Department attributes the pest outbreak to high moisture content in the potatoes. They had previously advised farmers to dry potatoes using fans before storage, regularly sort through the produce, and apply a protective layer of ash, sand, or sawdust. The use of powdered ‘bishkanthali’ or neem leaves was also recommended to deter the pest. However, the department noted that most farmers stored potatoes in large piles at home, contributing to the current problem.

In Kuriar More, Chengmari Union, farmers were seen discarding sacks of spoiled potatoes along the roadside. Others resorted to dumping the rotten produce into ponds, canals, and ditches.

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Ashikul Islam, a farmer from Kuriar More, cultivated potatoes on 1.32 acres this season, yielding approximately 200 sacks at 65 kg per sack. While he stored 25 sacks in a cold storage facility, the rest were piled at his home. Islam reported spending 150,000 Bangladeshi taka on cultivation alone, excluding his labor. “The potatoes at home are rotting, and wholesalers are refusing to buy them. All the potatoes have been destroyed,” he told Prothom Alo. Beauty Begum, another woman farmer from the same area, stated that 40 sacks of her potatoes had rotted, and residents were disposing of the spoiled produce wherever possible.

According to farmers, an estimated 50 to 60 farmers in the Kuriar More area of Chengmari have been affected by the “sutli” pest. They estimate production costs at 15 to 18 taka per kilogram, while market prices this year have not exceeded 7 to 10 taka per kilogram, resulting in substantial losses. The scarcity and high rental costs of cold storage facilities also compel many farmers to store their produce at home, amplifying their losses when spoilage occurs.

Forhad Hossain, a potato trader from Burirhat, told Prothom Alo that approximately 80 percent of potatoes stored at home are being destroyed by the “sutli” pest.

Uddin, Additional Agriculture Officer at Gangachar Upazila, explained that the “sutli” pest creates holes in potatoes, leading to rot. He advised storing potatoes on raised platforms. “The immediate action required is to identify and remove affected potatoes as soon as the infestation is noticed,” he said.