Farmers in Bangladesh successfully using bioprotection products 

At a glance 

• Two Bangladeshi farmers growing a range of vegetable crops had issues with fruit flies and white flies. 
• They used bioprotection products to help protect their crops in an environmentally friendly way, after learning about them from their input dealers.
• The effect of this was noticed during the flowering stage and resulted in higher crop yields overall.
• Both farmers will use bioprotection again and recommend it to other farmers.

During a trip to the Rangpur division in Bangladesh in April 2025, Dr Keith Holmes, PlantwisePlus Global Team Leader, met with two local farmers, Mr Motaleb and Mr Harun Ur Rashid, to hear how they have successfully integrated bioprotection products into their farming practices.  

The farmers use intercropping to cultivate a range of vegetable crops including brinjal, cucumber, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, red amaranth and green chilli. Fruit crops such as lemon, jackfruit and betel nut are grown around the borders of their plots.  

The pest challenge 

Both farmers were struggling with pest pressures from fruit flies and white flies, which were both causing significant crop damage.  

• Fruit flies are a major pest of fruiting vegetables. They lay their eggs inside ripening fruits, and the larvae feed internally. Cucumber and gourd are particularly high-risk crops for fruit fly damage, and infestation can cause premature fruit drop, internal rotting and reduced market value. 

• White flies are sap-sucking pests that feed directly on the fruiting vegetable. These pests cause damage by enabling the spread of sooty mould, stunting the growth of plants and transmitting viruses, such as the Chilli Leaf Curl Virus in green chillis. 

Looking to bioprotection 

Mr Motaleb and Mr Rashid first learned about bioprotection products through local input dealers. Both farmers were looking for more environmentally friendly pest management methods and therefore opted to use yellow stick traps and pheromone traps alongside their usual chemical pesticide use. Despite the initial cost of the biological products being considered high, they both considered it as a worthwhile investment.  

Positive results in the crops 

The farmers noticed the impact of the bioprotection products during the flowering stage, which led to a boost in crop yield. Encouraged by the results, both farmers say they will adopt bioprotection as a long-term solution in the long term. They have already promoted the benefits of these products to their neighbouring farmers, encouraging them to also adopt them on their farms. Both men emphasised the importance of proper application techniques and suggested that further training would be beneficial for accelerating the wider awareness and adoption of bioprotection products across the region.  

Takeaways from the farmers 

When asked to summarise their experiences of using bioprotection products,  Mr Motaleb and Mr Rashid recommended their use for two reasons: first to achieve higher yields and second, to protect the environment. Their advice to other farmers was clear – invest in these products to see similar benefits.  

Further resources 

CABI Academy offers a free online course on bioprotection products in English, which covers accessing information, selecting the right product, find and understanding label information, safety and more.  

Use the Portal’s search function to find bioprotection products that are available in your country.