Fungal attack ravages cauliflower fields in Chuadanga

A fungal disease has spread across cauliflower fields in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga, damaging crops on hundreds of bighas of land and leaving farmers worried about heavy financial losses.
Hatem Ali, a farmer from Hemayetpur village, cultivated early-season cauliflower on two bighas of land. “I had expected a good harvest, but the disease has destroyed the vegetables. None of the pesticides I have used appears to be working,” Hatem said, adding that he now fears a major loss.
Like Hatem, many farmers in Damurhuda cultivated cauliflower early in the season in the hope of fetching higher prices. They are now struggling as the disease has spread rapidly. Farmers said the disease initially affects the leaves, which turn reddish and begin to dry and rot. The infection then spreads to the entire plant, causing it to rot and die.
Farmer Jasim Uddin said, “The leaves suddenly turned reddish and started rotting. Within a few days, the entire plant died. The disease has now spread from one field to another.”
Another farmer, Saiful Islam, said the disease has affected almost every cauliflower field in the village. He alleged that farmers are not receiving adequate advice or support from the Department of Agricultural Extension. “We are worried that we may not even recover our cultivation costs this year,” he said. Farmers have urged agricultural experts to examine the affected fields immediately, identify the exact cause of the disease and take effective measures to contain its spread.
Abhijit Kumar Biswas, additional agriculture officer of Damurhuda upazila, said the fungal outbreak could be linked to adverse weather conditions associated with climate change and excessive use of chemical fertilisers.
He said senior agriculture officials had already inspected the affected fields and advised farmers to use fertilisers in moderation and apply appropriate pesticides.
Nasir Uddin, plant protection officer of Damurhuda upazila, said the disease was fungal in nature. “Farmers can use Pidiene and Carbendazim in the affected fields. We are advising them accordingly,” he said.