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 wind is likely to occur at a few places over the district with moderately heavy falls at places over the district. Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the district. As per the outlook issued by BMD for next 72 rainfalls activity may increase at the end period. During last four days, light rainfall occurred over the district and as per the quantitative medium range weather forecast; there is a possibility of light rainfall is likely during next five days.  Detail Agromet advisory are given below.

• Complete transplanting of rice seedlings at the earliest
• In case of any kind of damage to hills due to flood/stress or any other reason, fill those gaps by splitting healthy hills of same age.

1. Place comparatively high woody plant branch/2.5 decimal of land after immediate seedling transplanting to control insect-pest specially stem borer in environment friendly way.
2. Insert around 7-8 numbers of bamboo ‘T’ perches in per bigha paddy field, which will act as a resting place for predatory birds that will devour insect larvae and egg masses.
3. Arrange the bunding tightly so that no drainage can take place after light rain or moderate rain
4. Avoid deep planting for better crop establishment and fill up the gaps within a week. 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. Apply recommended herbicide as per recommendation within 1-3 days of transplanting.
5. Taking the advantage of the presence of sufficient amount of soil moisture, apply 1/3rd nitrogen as top dressing 15-20 days after transplanting.
6. Don’t use urea more than the proper dose otherwise plants become soften due to its cooling effect and plants become more susceptible for disease pest attack
7. 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.
8. August is very conducive for heavy infestation of rice (which is at tillering stage) with Rice Hispa. Therefore farmrers are advice to be ready for tackling the situation.
9. Early transplanted rice plants will be remained at maximum tillering stage. In this time, leaf roller, green leaf hopper, lust, bacterial blight, leaf blight, ufra, sheath blight and others diseases-pests infestation may found and so there is need to inspect field regularly.
10. Provide irrigation

Vegetables

• Prepare the seed bed of early winter vegetables (Cabbage, cauliflower, tomato). --Prepare main field by making ridge for transplanting of saplings. Make the drainage facility properly in the field.
• To avoid damage of seedlings due to rainy season, farmers should apply portable transparent Polythene shade on bed of nursery seedlings. The height of shade should be 75cm in the middle portion and 60 cm in the both side. These practices will beneficial for better germination and got healthy seedlings just from 20-25 days after sowing.
• In case of Cucurbitaceous crop, trailing the plant on ladder like bamboo structure may be arranged. Maintain proper drainage, Weeding and earthing up in the vegetable crop field to avoid water stagnation and to support crop stand
• 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.

• Provide irrigation and pesticides

Horticultural crops

• Farmers are advised to go for inter cultural operations in mango orchard.
• The farmers are advised to take up plant protection measures carefully in horticultural crops like, pomegranate for bacterial blight and lime for leaf minor.
• Plantation of banana crop should be done.
• Intercultural operation should be done in banana orchard.
• Due to deluge with rainy days farmers are advised not to apply fertilizer to the banana plant. Moreover, ensure to harvest the mature banana at proper stage.
• Provide mechanical support to banana, to prevent the crops from lodging due to strong winds.
• Due to monsoon showers, there is a chance of Sigatoka disease in banana. As a precaution, spray Pseudomonas 20g/litre. In case of severe attack, spray 2 ml hexaconazole or 1 ml propiconazole per one litre of water by mixing it with a sticker and spray on both the surface of the leaf.
• Drain out excess water from the banana land, as rainfall is expected. Besides, control Banana beetle, panama and others diseases-pests including continue intercultural operations and also inspect the field regularly
• Besides, to control Banana beetle, panama and others diseases-pests including continue intercultural operations it is advised to inspect the field regularly.
• Though possibilities of rain, application of fertilizer at 2 months after planting in papaya may be performed.
• 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.

• Provide irrigation and pesticides

Beetle vine:

1. Farmers may continue the planting of betel vine cuttings upto August. Cuttings should be obtained from disease free garden and treated with a solution consisting of Bordeaux mixture 0.5% and streptocycline 500 ppm for half an hour before planting
2. Present weather situation is conducive for attack of betel vine with Phytophthora leaf and root rot, Bacterial leaf spot. Therefore farmer should careful about stagnant of water near root zone and apply four drenches and eight sprays of Bordeaux mixture @ 1.0% and 0.5% respectively Farmers may continue the planting of betel vine cuttings upto August. Cuttings should be obtained from disease free garden and treated with a solution consisting of Bordeaux mixture 0.5% and streptocycline 500 ppm for half an hour before planting
3. 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.

• Provide irrigation and pesticides

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.