BRRI Dhan-90 stands out among the crowd

The brainchild of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute -- BRRI Dhan-90 -- has ensured food security as well as job opportunities for vulnerable group in Rangpur region during the lean period.

The variety has proved climate-resilient, high yielding and diseases tolerant.

The observations came on the observance of “Field Day” that marked the harvesting of paddy at Mohonpur village under Sadar upazila of Dinajpur district on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute’s (BRRI) Rangpur regional station organised the event with the support from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Mohammad Mejbahul Islam attended the event as the chief guest while the DAE Additional Director Mohammad Towhidul Iqbal of Rangpur region and Additional Director (in-charge) of the DAE in Dinajpur region Mohammad Shah Alam were present as special guests with senior scientific officer of BRRI Rangpur chapter Raqibul Hasan in the chair.

The DAE Deputy Director in Dinajpur Prodeep Kumar Guho, BRRI Scientific Officer Dr Mohaamd Masud Rana, Agriculture Extension Officer of Dinajpur Mohammad Rafiquzzaman, local government representatives and farmers were, among others, present at the programme.

In his speech as the chief guest, senior Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Mohammad Mejbahul Islam said: “The BRRI scientists have developed a variety of paddies such as BRRI Dhan-90 after an extensive research.  It is a short-duration paddy.”

“The variety proved high yielding, flood and disease tolerant, and generated huge interest among farmers.”

The paddy can be harvested within 115 days while the traditional variety needs 150-160 days. It can help create jobs for farm labourers, increase purchase capacity of vulnerable groups in the region and ensure overall food security.

Farmers can also cultivate early potatoes; pulses and vegetables in their land after harvesting the paddy variety, which will bring them more economic benefits.

A Mohonpur village farmer Abdur Rashid Sarker, who had cultivated the variety in his one-acre land said, there was no pest attack in the field. Each panicle was filled with grains.

“I have started harvesting, and hope to reap at least 45 maunds of paddy from my field spending Tk 22,000 on my one-acre farming,” he said.

“According to the present market price, the produce will fetch me around Tk 40,000.”