Tk 10,000 spent on 40 decimals, hairy caterpillars across the whole soybean field; hoped-for Tk 10,000–14,000 profit in doubt

According to The Daily Star, a 70-year-old farmer from Katabunia village in Char Amanullah union, Subarnachar, Noakhali, spent Tk 10,000 this year growing soybeans on 40 decimals of land. He expected 12 to 15 maunds and, at Tk 1,500–1,600 a maund, a profit of Tk 10,000 to 14,000. But pests attacked his entire field. Most Subarnachar farmers report the same: fields look green from afar, but up close hairy caterpillars are on leaves and shoots, with holes, browning, black spots, and many plants failing to flower. Soybeans are popular because they need little cost or irrigation, are sown after Aman on residual moisture, and are harvested in 100–110 days. But last year's heavy rain and waterlogging delayed planting this season. Many farmers leased land, took high-interest loans from moneylenders or NGOs, or even sold cows and goats to farm, so they fear losses. Farmers say pesticides are not working and that the agriculture office does not even tell them which pesticide to use. The upazila agriculture officer cited a manpower shortage: the 24 blocks in eight unions should each have a sub-assistant agriculture officer, but only 10 are working. The district office blamed soil salinity and lack of rain for worsening the attack.