Banana farmers are extremely distraught as widespread attack of the virus called `Panama disease’ on banana trees of Ishwardi upazila in Pabna. Hundreds of hectares of banana trees have been affected by this disease.In this situation, all the dreams of the banana farmers have been perished as thousands of banana trees died before their eyes after spending a lot of money.

According to the office of Ishwardiupazila agriculture office, 1,840 hectares of banana trees have been planted in Ishwardi upazila.

Of the planting 1,800 hectares of banana trees have been cultivated in Laxmikunda union. Due to profit in banana cultivation in recent years, farmers in Kamalpur, Dadapur, Lakshmikunda, Kaikunda, Charkurulia, Shantinagar of the union have planted only banana instead of other crops.

During the field visit on Thursday, banana farmers Sujan Biswas, Dulal Biswas, Bhutta Pramanik, Sodai Ali, Ismail Biswas, Saiful Islam, Israil Hossain, MotalibSardarand of village Dadapur and Gedan Sardar of village Lakshmikunda under Lakshmikunda union in Ishwardi upazila said an unknown virus has attacked banana plants.

The virus first attacks the old leaves of the banana trees and gradually reaches the top and attacks the young leaves. It causes the banana leaves to turn brown and shrivel. After a few days the leaves fall off. Banana tree root or stem virus attack banana plant with yellow to red crooked spots. Later the trees are dying due to rotting at the bottom and top of the root.

They said some people’s banana plantations were completely destroyed and some had 60 to 70 percent of their banana plants killed or damaged by the virus. They are cutting down virus-infected banana trees and keeping them in piles.They complained that even after repeatedly informing the agriculture department, they did not come to the field even once. Denying the complaint, the agriculture officials said, “We have advised as much as possible.”

They also said that after cutting the trees, it can be seen that the inner white part has turned black. Also, black spots on the upper part of the banana infected with this virus make the banana malnourished and tasteless. If the banana plant is not protected from this virous, hundreds of farmers will be forced to stop banana cultivation to avoid losses.

They said, ‘5-6 years ago, banana cultivation started in the inaccessible char lands of Lakshmikunda Union on the banks of the Padma of the upazila. As the farmers made huge profits in the first year, banana plantations were gradually expanded. Some 1,800 hectares of land of this union are under banana cultivation this year. Apart from this, in other areas of the upazila, 40 hectares of land have been planted bananas. Banana cultivation in char lands has changed the rural economy here. Hundreds of people have become financially independent.

Farmers said that Mehersagar, Amritsagar and Mandira bananas are cultivated here. Tk 350 to Tk 400 banana seedlings are planted per bigha of land. Each banana tree costs Tk 150 to Tk 200 for land rent, fertilizer-seeds and cultivation cost. And each banana stick (kadi) is sold from Tk 300 to Tk 450. The farmers get profit at least Tk 60 to 70 thousand per bigha and excess banana pulp (Muchi and Bhadal) are sold in the market as vegetables.

Bhutta Pramanik, a banana farmer of Dadapur village said, I have been cultivating bananas for 11 years in Dada Char area.I cultivated 52 bigha of banana this year.Every year I get good profit by cultivating banana.But this time due to the virus we have faced huge losses due to the death of banana plants.Also, increasing the price of fertilizers and pesticides has increased the losses.

From 2023, the virus started attacking banana plantations, he said.This time 70 to percent banana plantations have been attacked by the virus.To save the farmers from the attack of the virus, if the upazila agriculture office came to the banana plantation and advised the farmers to take measures to prevent the virus, huge losses could have been avoided.

Dulal Biswas, a banana grower of the same village, said, ` I have cultivated banana on ten bigha land. Now every banana plant is dying due to virus attack. It is very sad to see the carefully planted banana tree dying in front of our eyes. ‘

Sujan Biswas, another farmer of the same village, said that even after informing the agriculture officials, they did not come to our field to give any fair solution, so we did not get any advice.

Saiful and Israel Janan, two brothers of Dadapur village, said that most of the banana trees in our banana garden have burst due to virus attack. So, these trees are forced to be cut. We two brothers plant banana on 35 bigha land. About 70 percent of these banana plants have been destroyed by the virus.

According to Ishwardi Agriculture Department, diseased banana trees should be burnt. After two-or three-years banana cultivation should be stopped and other crops should be grown on that land. Also, increasing soil organic matter by applying lime can keep banana plants free from Panama disease.

Shamima Khatun, Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of Lakshikunda Union, said, `I have advised to cut and burn the leaves of virus-infected banana trees and spray them with fungicides.’

Dr Jamal Uddin, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Pabna, said that banana trees infected with Panama disease should be uprooted and either ground or burnt.Because if infected trees are piled up, the germs will spread more. He advised farmers to plant good and clean banana seedlings to avoid banana virus attack.