Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
Beans are being grown commercially in Pabna’s Ishwardi for about 30 years. Beans are cultivated more in Muladuli union of the upazila. The smell of pesticides wafts through the air in these areas during bean season. Health risks are increasing day by day. Agricultural land is affected.
Agriculture office sources said that 1 thousand 290 hectares of land have been cultivated in the upazila. The production target is 28 thousand 380 metric tons. The most beautiful, Kerala, Auto, Chocolate, Ghritkanchan varieties are cultivated.
Apart from these, several indigenous varieties of beans are cultivated in this region. Different types of pesticides are used in bean cultivation.
Especially in insect control and fungicides or rot inhibitors. Pesticides, known to farmers as vitamins, are also applied to plants to increase yields. Insecticides are sprayed five days a week to control bean flower and young bean weevils. Due to high pest infestation, some fields are poisoned twice a day.
It can be seen from the calculation, if the cost of pesticides in beans is 9 thousand per bigha, pesticides worth Tk 8 crore 10 lakhs are used in 9.5 thousand bigha land.
On the surface, the mooladuli area can be seen, covering a vast area with only shim and shimkhet. Farmers are busy tending to plants, weeding, spraying pesticides and some are picking beans. At this time, you have to put a handkerchief to your nose to walk in the strong smell of pesticides.
Bean grower Ahidul of Muladuli area said that he has been cultivating beans for a long time. Pesticides are needed more this year. Pesticides should be sprayed both in the morning and in the afternoon. Raihan Ali of Betbaria said that 95% of the land has been planted with beans. Pesticides should be given after 2-3 days to prevent rotting and pest control after bean plants grow. Pesticides cause foul odors and damage the environment, but there is nothing to be done. Pesticides must be used to grow beans.
Additional Agriculture Officer Mahmuda Motamaila said, if the weather is not favorable for early sowing and the weather is not favorable, insecticides are needed more in bean cultivation. Some environmentally friendly pesticides have come into the market. Advising farmers to apply those pesticides.
Doctor KC Dutta said that the use of pesticides in vegetable cultivation is very harmful to the human body. Eating these vegetables can cause cancer. People can be affected by various complex diseases including kidney and liver damage, birth of disabled children.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mita Sarkar said that pesticides are important in crop production. However, if the application rules are not followed and excessive use of pesticides is harmful to the environment and human health. Moreover, the vegetable is suitable for eating after five days, seven days, 14 days and 20 days after the use of pesticides.
But no one understands them. Spraying in the morning in the afternoon, again the previous day and taking it to the market the next day. Farmers do this more on other vegetables including early beans. It poses a health risk. We are always making the farmers aware about this. I advise them to use pesticides in controlled doses. Besides, we are also encouraging them to use organic pesticides. Organic pesticides have no side effects.
