Experts for boosting BINA Dhan cultivation

Department of Agricultural Extension and District Administration office of Rangpur has arranged a day-long training program on short-duration Bina Dhan cultivation for the farmers of the region, emphasizing its importance to boost the overall rice production of the country.

The program took place at the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Rangpur sub-station office at Tajhat of Rangpur municipality on Tuesday.

Speakers at the event underscored the need for cultivating high yielding, disease tolerant, climate-resilient, early harvestable BINA Dhan variety to get bumper yield and trained the farmers on how to get a production boost using modern techniques.

Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur divisional office, Khandoker Abdul Wahed has presided over the programme. Additional Director Tawhidul Iqbal and Deputy Director Obaidur Rahman of Rangpur DAE, Rangpur sub-station Officer-in-charge, Mohammad Ali, were present at the programme while Scientific Officers of BINA, Mohammad Mahamudul Hasan, and Mottaber Rhaman moderated the training session.

The speakers said that scientists from BINA have developed the new variety of paddy, BINA Dhan- 17, after extensive research.

“It is a short-duration paddy, and the cultivation requires less cost and effort from the farmers’ end. The paddy can be harvested within 115 days while the traditional variety needs 140-150 days,” said DAE director Abdul Wahed.

It can help create employment opportunities for the farm labours, increase the buying ability of the vulnerable groups, and ensure food security across the country, said Additional Director of Rangpur DAE Tawhidul Iqbal.