The early farmed cabbage in Meherpur has been attacked by insects. The attacks cannot be stopped even by using different types of pesticides. As a result, the farmers are feeling very frustrated in the dream of profit.

Last year, farmers of Meherpur benefited a lot by cultivating early varieties of cabbage.  This time too they had cultivated more in hope of profit.

Farmers told that a type of insect is flying and entering the field. Flowers and leaves are bursting and making holes. Cauliflower and cabbage are becoming inedible due to holes. About 80 percent flowers are damaging.

An affected farmer Tayab Ali of Garabaria in Gangni upazila of the district said the paddy land is next to the cabage land. Now the paddy is being harvested. Insects flies and take shelter to cabbage fields. He said it was a kind of slender insect.

He told that due to insect infestation, most of the leaves have cracked and turned yellowish. At some point the roots are rotting and the tree is dying.

Tayab planted cabbage in four bighas of land. On the advice of the local agriculture office, he has already sprayed several pesticides for which he has had to spend about Tk. 4 thousand more over the cultivation cost. But he said the results did not match.

He said that at least one and a half lakh taka might be lost if the situation is not improved.

According to the agriculture office, cauliflower and cabbage have been cultivated in 2,500 hectares of land in the district this time. Which is about one and a half more than last year.

Farmers have been cultivating the flowers in the fields of Bhatpara, Saharbati, Kaligangni, Hijalbaria, Kutubpur, Sholmari and Kathuli, Dhala, Nawapara, Jorpukur and Garabaria villages of Gangni upazila in the hope of making profit.

Gangni Upazila Agriculture Officer Lovely Khatun said the farmers have already been advised. However, pesticide companies and pesticide experts are being consulted as there is not much work in some places even after the use of pesticides.