M Muslim Chowdhury, Srimangal/Moulvibazar/Representative/

In Moulvibazar, buro crops of hundreds of farmers were destroyed due to Buro rice Bri 28 blast disease. Farmers are worried about their food security. Desperate in this situation, more than a hundred farmers of several villages including Srimangal Noagao, Rajapur, Yuchuppur, Uttara Khariau, Lamua held a human chain and held a press conference to seek the help of the government.

At a press conference at Srimangal Upazila Press Club today at 3 pm, the farmers said, Hail Howre Buro crop is the main means of livelihood of most of the people in this area. Some do Aush and Aman but it is very less. This paddy is the only means of movement with their families for the next year. But due to Vidhibam blast disease, the whole field of paddy is now scattered. Some are cutting the spoiled paddy for cattle, some are leaving it on the ground. The press conference was attended by the farmers of Noagaon village Yuchup Mia Md. Tajul Islam, Md. Dulal Mian and Md. Ashad Mian and hundreds of farmers.

Farmers said that they will not be able to cultivate if the government does not help them in seeds, fertilizers and other fields in the coming, Aush, Aman and Buro seasons. At the same time, if the small, regional and barga farmers are not financially supported, they will have to live without food with their families. Later they formed a human chain on the Srimangal Sagar Dighi road and appealed to the government to stand by them.

In this regard, Srimangal Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Mohiuddin said that farmers have been discouraged from planting Bri 28, yet farmers planted Bri 28 rice on 2651 hectares of land in Srimangal Upazila. Some of which are affected by blast disease. When it is first caught the leaves begin to die little by little. That’s when the farmers were given two rounds of fungicide sprays and other advice. Those who did not follow the proper rules lost their crops. He said that the list of affected farmers is being prepared. which will be sent above. Any decision or assistance from the government will actually be distributed to the farmers.