Rice: Promising future ahead

Since independence the population of this country has increased two-and-half times but rice production has increased more than three-and-half fold which reflects the success story of rice scientists, extension agents and farmers Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) is a one of key contributors behind this tremendous achievement.

In 2015, BRRI has formulated Rice Vision for 2050 and beyond; estimating projected rice requirement for 2030, 2041 and 2050. The projected requirements are 36.5, 42.0 and 44.8 million tons respectively, to meet the demand of 180, 203 and 215 million people. To achieve these milestones, our production target would be 40, 44 and 48 million tons respectively, having a surplus of about 3.0 MT per year. Using our high yielding new varieties and new technologies we got the momentum and already exceeded the production target.

According to a report published in The Business Post recently scientists at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) have been working on this since 1995 and till now they developed seven rice varieties, which contain high protein, zinc and iron, by using the technology available to them.

Another variety that contains beta carotene to meet Vitamin A deficiency in the human body is waiting for final approval. This is helping the country gradually reduce malnutrition but it is still high in several regions. According to Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), among children under five, 28 per cent suffer from stunting, 23 per cent from being underweight and 10 per cent from wasting or low weight-for-height.

According to recent statistics of USDA, Bangladesh has had the highest average rice yield in South Asia and at per world standard. During 2019-20 production years, Bangladesh is going to clinch third place beating Indonesia in global rice production with an increased output of 38.54 million tons enabling surplus of 4.0 MT meeting requirements for 167.0 million people including 1.2 million ROHINGYA refugees. Bangladesh has emerged as a global model for combating hunger and obtained great success in becoming a country of food surplus from chronic food shortages. At the time of its independence in 1971, it was beyond anyone’s imagination that a tiny piece of land in the South Asian region called Bangladesh will perform so tremendously that it will exceed several domestic as well international agencies’ targets on economic performance.

Initially, BRRI’s main target was to produce more rice in less land and feeding the ever increasing population of the country. But with the increase of per capita income and socio-economic condition demand and taste of the people have been changed. Now, they prefer slender and nutritious rice.  Moreover, Bangladesh will have to fulfil the goals of SDG by 2030 and one of the important goals of SDG is doubling the productivity along with nutritious and safe food. So, BRRI has given special emphasis on producing nutrient enriched and export quality premium rice varieties. With yield and yield contributing attributes scientists are giving more importance to nutrient attributes in on-going and future rice research and development plan.

In the Gene bank of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) about 4500 indigenous rice varieties of Bangladesh origin and 3500 collected varieties are preserved. Apart from BRRI, few non-government organizations are also involved in conservation and research on indigenous rice varieties. Unfortunately, many indigenous rice varieties of Bangladesh have completely disappeared or on the way of extinction. The main reason is the substantially higher yield and profitability of improved varieties compared to the traditional ones.

Rice is not just the staple food of the Bengalis. The food and the crop are central elements to Bengali identity. Many things have changed in the lives of Bangladeshis over the years but rice remains one constant.  There are many references scattered across Bengali texts describing rice as the primary food item in Bengali diet.