Bumper Bina Dhan yield brings smiles to farmers

Delighted farmers in Rajarhat of Kurigram are passing a busy time in harvesting Bina Dhan-17, a high yielding variety of rice developed by the scientists of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture.

More farmers in the northern region are opting to cultivate this rice variety now as it provides them with an opportunity to cultivate a third crop (an additional crop) in a year on the same cropland, which benefits both the farmers and farm labourers.

This variety can be harvested one month earlier than the regular rice varieties and bears bright prospect for a change in the socio-economic condition and food security status in Kurigram, said officials at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in the district.

This paddy variety is ideal for the soil and climate of the region, and it is least affected by natural calamities like floods, drought and pest attacks, said Shampa Akhter, Rajarjat upazila agricultural officer.

She said: “Bina Dhan-17 matures in less than four months, 110 to 115 days to be exact, and thus can be harvested one month ahead of the customary Aman crop of the high yielding varieties (which take 160 to 170 days to mature), allowing cultivation of different winter crops.”

Farmers in the district said after harvesting the paddy they can cultivate other paddy varieties and different winter vegetables such as potato, brinjal, radish etc.

Quoting the DAE officials, they said Bina Dhan-17 yield is at least 33 per cent more than that of other varieties of Aman, and the production cost is around one-third lower. A relatively finer variety, Bina Dhan-17, is also eco-friendly because it requires 30 to 40 per cent less water and fertiliser.

The cultivation of Bina Dhan-10 and other varieties of Aman season starts in July every year. But as they are harvested in November, the cultivation of other winter crops like potatoes, mustard begin late, and their yields become limited.

Although the cultivation of Bina Dhan-17 also starts in July, its harvesting and threshing can be completed by October, allowing winter crops to be planted one month earlier, much to the delight of farmers, Shampa said.

During a recent visit to the area, The Business Post found that about 60 to 70 maunds of Bina Dhan-17 can be

harvested from an acre of land, which is 10 to 15 maunds more than other varieties.

Alhaz Fazlul Haque Mandal, a farmer of Sadar union of Rajarhat told The Business Post that he harvested 90 to 100 manuds of Bina Dhan-17 from 1.5 acres of land, and now he will cultivate potato on the same land.

He said: “Compared to other crops, this paddy variety requires less irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides. We need to offer less labour and investment to cultivate, and we can harvest the crop a month earlier. That is why more farmers are inclined to opt for this variety.”

According to the Rajarhat Upazila Agricultural Office, 11,516 hectares of cropland of the upazila are brought under paddy cultivation during Aman season this year. Of which, Bina Dhan-17 were cultivated on 20 hectares of land, and the harvest will be completed in the last week of October.

Kurigram DAE deputy director Md Monjurul Haque Prodhan told The Business Post that Bina Dhan-17 has been cultivated on over 3,817 hectares of cropland Kurigram.

He said there is a bright prospect of cultivating Bina Dhan-17 in the district, and they are encouraging farmers to opt for the cultivation.