Agromet Advisories

Special Agromet Advisories for CORONA virus (COVID-19) transmission in Bangladesh

Farmers and all other farm managements are advised to follow the guidelines of Government of Bangladesh to avoid infection and social transmission of CORONA virus (COVID-19). Precautions and safety measures should be taken up to prevent the Carona virus spread. Simple measures include social distancing, maintaining personal hygiene by washing hands with soap, wearing of face mask, drink hot water, stay at home and cleaning of implements and machinery. Farmers should not work in a group; consult with a doctor in case of any symptom. Please stay at home does not visit the field until it is very necessary.

Salient Weather Conditions & Forecast

As per the weather forecast of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) during next 24 hours’ light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind and lightning flashes is likely to occur at most places over the district with heavy to very heavy falls at places over the district. Day temperature may fall by 1-2°C and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the district. As per the outlook issued by BMD for next 72 hrs rainfall activity may continue. During last four days, heavy rainfall occurred over the district and as per the quantitative medium range weather forecast; there is a possibility of heavy rainfall is likely during next five days.  Detail Agromet advisory are given below.

Aman Paddy

• Maintain 5-7 cm standing water up to maximum tillering stage.
• Keep the bund and field weed free either by hand weeding or by application of herbicide. First weeding should be done 10-15 days after transplanting. Second weeding should be done 30-35 days after transplanting. Weeding may be done either by hand or using weedicides. 2-4 D Amine or Butachlor may be used for weeding
• All the intercultural operations should be done.
• Taking the advantage of the presence of sufficient amount of soil moisture, apply 1/3rd nitrogen as top dressing 15-20 days after transplanting. Last 1/3 nitrogen as top dressing should be applied 5-7 days before panicle initiation
• Due to substantial decrease in sunshine hours with occasional rain there is chance of attack of Yellow stem borer in Aman rice; to manage the attack, spray Carbofuran @10kg per ha.
• Where luxurious growth of plants, at tillering stage, is found ,there is chance of  sheath blight attack may take place due humid weather and water stagnation. Spray Hexaconazol @ 1ml//litre water, or Tebuconazol @ 1ml/litre water.
• For  control of ;wilting, after drain out of water spray Streptocyclene and additional potasic fertilizer to the plants
• Where tillers were affected due to water stagnation, apply urea and potash fertilizer through puddling with the remaining plants for removing the gas inside the soil otherwise plants will turn reddish
• Where Tillering is complete and  panicle has started,apply one hand weeding inside the field and also in the bund area, to make ensure proper solarisation inside the row
• Where Tillering is complete and  panicle has started there is chance of attack of  leaf roller
• Spray Malathion @ 2ml. per litre water or Chlorpyriphos@2ml/liter of water or Endosulfun@1.5ml/liter of water.
• Light trap should be used for control of insects. Light trap should be placed at some distance from the crop and bulb should be lightened from evening 06.30 PM to 10.30 PM and collected insects should be destroyed in the morning hours.
• The farmers are advised to continue monitoring field if they found symptom then should go for spray of herbicides / insecticides.

• Apply pesticides after rainfall

Vegetables

• Transplant early winter vegetables in the main field.
• Saplings of early winter vegetables should be planted on the ridge. -Before planting the roots should be dipped into fungicide solution.
• Before transplanting of early winter vegetables soil of main field should be sterilized with Di-ethane M-45 for preventing wilting due to splash of rain.
• In Ladies finger, there is chance of  Fruit borer/ Collect and destroy the affected fruits. Spray Neem oil @ 50ml/l at clear weather condition.
• In Brinjal, there is chance of incidences of   borer under the prevailing weather conditions Collect infected fruit and shoot and burn them. If we remove the weeds and dry leaves so the pupa will not be able to develop. Control: 1) We can use pheromone trap 2) Spray of 1.5 gram B.T per lit of water during evening. 3) Spray Cartap (50%) 1gram or Spinosad (45%) 0.2 ml or Thiodicarb 1.5 gram per lit of water
• In Bitter gourd, there is chance of Epilachna beetle- under the prevailing weather conditions. At the initial stage of infestation its good to remove and burn the eggs with leaves and baby beetle. 2) If the infestation is high then apply 2.5 gram Carbaryl or 2 ml carbosulfan or 1.5 ml of (Cholrpyriphos+ Cypermethrin) per lit of water
• If the attack of fruit fly, red pumpkin beetle and epilechna beetle in summer gourds may observed, spray malathion 50 EC@ 1ml per litre of in the field to control these insects when the weather is sunny.

• Drain out excess rainfall

• Apply pesticides after rainfall

Horticultural crops

• Planting of new saplings of fruit plants such as mango, litchi, jackfruit, guava, blackberry, custard apple, lemon is advised. If damaged by heavy rainfall, fill the gaps by replanting.
•  The farmers are advised to take up plant protection measures carefully in horticultural crops like, pomegranate for bacterial blight and lime for leaf minor.
•  The current weather is congenial for fruit blight and fruit rot disease in pomegrante, To control, spray Mancozeb 600g and Carbendazim 100 g @ 200 litre of water.
• To control thrips in pomegranate, spray Spinosad 2.5 SC @ 10 ml per 10 liters of water
•  Use fruit fly trap to control fruit fly damage in guava orchards and cucurbits. Farmers are advised to remove foot rot infected plants from rice field and avoid ponding of water to check further spreading of infection.
• To control fruit blight and fruit rot disease in pomegrante, spray Mancozeb 600g and Carbondazim 100 g @ 200 litre of water.
• Attack of Papaya mealy bug on papaya fruit can be controlled by dusting of Chlorpyriphos 1.5% dust or Malathion 5% dust around the healthy plants; also destruct ant colonies with drenching of Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2 ml/litre.

• Drain out excess rainfall

• Apply pesticides after rainfall

Beetle vine:

• In this time and under the prevailing weather, foot rot and stem rot diseases affected plants start to die. So, affected plants and its branches have to deposit in particular hole or burning and never deposit beetle vine waste in irrigated water sources like channel /pond. Otherwise, unaffected vine land will be contaminated. In this case, all vine growers collectively have to take this initiative (deposit all vine waste in particular hole away from the vine growing area) and as a result all vine land will be disease free condition.

• Drain out excess rainfall

• Apply pesticides after rainfall

Cotton

• Complete seed sowing at tilth conditioned land considering seed rate  2 kg/33 decimal.
• Maintain row to row distance 25-35 inches and seed to seed distance 10-15 inches.
• High yielding varieties like CB-12, DM-2, Rupali and Suvro may be chosen for sowing.

• Drain out excess rainfall

• Apply pesticides after rainfall

Livestock

• Livestock may be affected by foot and mouth disease due to rainy weather. Following measures may be taken up.
• Feed them only dry food.
• Keep the shed clean and dry.
• Disinfect the shed with bleaching powder.
• Don’t allow to graze the cattle in submerged field.
• If wound found at foot and mouth wash the wound with potassium per manganate solution.
• Vaccinate livestock regularly.
• If any disease symptoms appear, seek veterinary doctor advice immediately for proper treatment.

Poultry

• Apply lime bleaching powder and copper sulphet solution spray before placing them in farm
• Provide vaccinations as advised by the doctor.
• Apply dry food and clean tap water for drinking purpose.
• Prevailing hot and humid weather condition may lead to gastrointestinal parasites infection to the poultry. Clean sanitary conditions of poultry sheds are very much important

Fishery

• Repair damaged dykes of fisheries ponds and take care so that fishes do not escape.
• Drain excess water from the pond.
• There is enough water, so release the fry into the pond.
• Remove the unwanted fishes before leaving the new fry into the pond.
• Contact the local fisheries office for any advice.