Bumper Kataribhog production makes farmers happy

Farmers in Dinajpur are happy to achieve bumper production of Kataribhog rice, renowned for its special white colour, heritage and rich aroma.

The cultivation of the rice has seen a boost after recently gaining a Geographical Indication (GI) certificate from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Despite the export halt caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and reduced prices, farmers of the district have seen a good yield this season and are expecting a fair return as the restrictions caused by the pandemic are gradually easing.

The Kataribhog variety earned the GI tag as the rice possesses a unique size, fragrance, and nutritional value.

This is only possible for the variety of rice grown in Dinajpur, a northern district in Bangladesh, says the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), quoting the WIPO in a press release.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension’s (DAE) Dinajpur branch, about seven lakh metric tonnes of aromatic Kataribhog rice have been produced in 83,020 hectares of cropland this year, which were brought under aromatic BRRI Dhan-34 cultivation.

“The farmers of the district have garnered a bumper yield of the rice variety. If all goes well, we are expecting fair prices this season and good export earnings,” said Prodip Kuman Guha, deputy director of Dinajpur DAE.

“We received the GI certificate from the DPDT, under the Ministry of Industries, on June 17, upholding the historical value of the geographical region represented by the aromatic rice, which can only be found in Dinajpur,” said the DAE official.

He further said the farmers were able to harvest 2.4 metric tonnes of BRRI Dhan-34 variety per hectare of cropland this season.

“Apart from that, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has also developed a new variety of aromatic rice named BRRI Dhan-90 and cultivated it in five hectares of land on an experimental basis. Although it is not as fragrant as the BRRI Dhan-34 variety, it is exquisite enough to pertain in the domestic and global markets,” said the deputy director of DAE.

Emphasising the importance of getting a GI certificate, DPDT Registrar (Additional Secretary) Abdus Sattar said, “From now on, Kataribhog rice is recognised as a heritage of Dinajpur, and if any other country claims it as their own, they have to pay a royalty for cultivation or expansion.”

Besides, the demand for and export of these products in the world market will increase through this recognition. The price of this product has increased by up to 30 per cent abroad, he said.

Meanwhile, the demand for other fragrant rice, including Kataribhog, is increasing every year in the country. About 10 per cent of the rice produced this season in different parts of the country is fragrant.

These varieties, such as Kataribhog, Jirakatari, Badshabhog, Kalojira, Begunbichi, Chinigura, Kalonenia, and Radhunipagli, are being cultivated in the country mainly in the Aman season (Kharif-2), says the DAE office of Dinajpur.

Dinajpur has a long-standing reputation for producing good quality Kataribhog rice due to its nutrient-rich soil quality, weather and skilled farmers, who have been cultivating this rice for decades, said the DPDT registrar.

Abul Kalam Azad, a farmer of Bhaira village, Sadar upazila said that he cultivated different varities of aromatic paddy on 23 bighas of land and got a bumper yield. “If all goes well I am optimistic to earn a profit this year,” asserted the farmer.

Along with Azad, farmer Moyez Uddin, who cultivated Kataribhog paddy on seven bighas of cropland this year, is expecting a good yield.

Due to the increase in demand, the cultivation of aromatic paddy in the district has almost tripled in seven years. Of that, Kataribhog cultivation has increased the most, said the DAE sources.

They said the cultivation of aromatic paddy started increasing in Dinajpur in the 2012-13 financial year. That year, 86,994 tonnes of Kataribhog rice were produced in 41,000 hectares of land.

Since then, aromatic paddy cultivation and land where it is produced has been continuously increasing every year, they said.

They further said that 1.1 lakh hectares of cropland were brought under Kataribhog rice cultivation in the district in the last fiscal year. But due to the pandemic-induced restrictions, farmers faced a massive loss.

If all goes well, about 1.5 lakh hectares of cropland will be brought under Kataribhog rice cultivation next year, said DAE official Prodip.