Farming of insecticide-free vegetables faces setback

After years-long success, the initiative to produce insecticide-free vegetables in Jessore, Magura and Jhenidah districts now face setback as pheromone, the principal ingredient used in the process, is not available in local markets.

Farmers of the three districts have to go to Jessore town to collect the item.

In 2004 farmers of the three districts began to use 'pheromone trap' and beneficial insects to check pest attack on their fields as Krishi Projukti Bastobayan Kendro (KPBK) with cooperation of BARI (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute) introduced the environment-friendly items produced by Ispahani Agro-Biotech Limited, Safe Agriculture Bangladesh Limited, and a few other companies.

At least five thousand acres of land in 62 villages of the three districts are now being used to produce pesticide free vegetables, said sources in KPBK. In the ongoing season, the farmers are growing vegetables like korola (balsam apple), gourd and brinjal.

This correspondent recently visited Gaidghat village under Bandobila union in Bagherpara upazila of Jessore, Sikandarpur and Nagorpur in Jessore Sadar and Piarpur in Shalikha upazila of Magura district and talked to farmers.

"We have to take the trouble to go to Jessore town as pheromone is not available in local markets, even at the upazila headquarters," said Nazrul Islam Khan, a farmer engaged in producing insecticide-free vegetables.

The farmers said they want to continue the new pest management system as it is less costly, hygienic, and environment friendly but non-availability of pheromone seriously holds back the prospect of 'silent revolution' in pest control management and environment protection.

A single pheromone trap including medicine and a plastic-bottle costs only Tk 50, they said.

"Pest control using pheromone trap and beneficial insects, from sowing to harvesting a vegetable on one bigha of land needs Tk 2,400 only while using pesticide it costs at least Tk 12 thousand," said Ayub Hossain, a farmer of Premchara village in Bagharpara upazila.

"Farmers in the area usually buy pheromone from the office of Ispahani Agro-Biotech Limited at Jessore town. The research organisation under a special permission of the agriculture ministry imported pheromone to use it for research and development. The item is not easily available in local markets as it is yet to be imported on commercial basis," said Lakkhan Chandra Mondal, president of KPBK, at its office at Gaidghat under Bandabila union in Bagharpara upazila of Jessore district.

Contacted over cell phone, Dr Syed Nurul Alam, chief scientific officer of BARI's Entomology Division, said, "Earlier pheromone could not be imported as the 'Pesticide Rule' of 1985 did not have the provision to import organic pesticide on commercial basis. Hopefully, pheromone will be available in markets by December this year as the Ministry of Agriculture has already withdrawn the ban on import and sale of organic pesticides through an amendment of the Pesticide Rule."

A 'pheromone trap' contains a chemical capsule comprising pheromone, the female sex hormone of insects, which is kept in a plastic bottle half-filled with water. It attracts male insects to flock to the bottle to drown.

And to destroy the harmful female insects, farmers have to use some beneficial insects like bracon, habator, trichogramma, chilonis and chrysopa, experts said.