Bagrhat Correspondent :
Betel -leave growers of Fakirhat Upazila are incuring huge loss as the betel leaves are badly affected with cold injury diseases.
Due to the attack of cold injuries the colour of the betel leave is turning from green to yellow rapidly and they are falling down in large scale from the plants. The experts opine that the betel leaves were attacked with cold injury deceases due to the prevailing of cold spell along with fogy atmosphere.
On the other hand, betel- leaf growers could not protect their betel leave gardens properly from the cold spell due to the short supply of straws and agricultural inputs. Mention be made here that due to the political unrest, hartal and blockade programmes straws and agricultural imputes could not be supplied here. It is also mentionable here that just with the beginning of the winter season all the 4 sides and the top roofs of betel leaf gardens are fenced with straws in order to protect the betel leaves from the cold injury diseases. Straws are not available locally.
It is learnt from a betel leave gardener (grower) that the use of mustard cake in the betel leave garden was also responsible for the attack of cold injuries.
